Professor Atanu Dutta

1
Laser cavity and existence of modes
Laser cavity
A laser cavity consist of a laser medium, appropriate combination of mirror and a pumping source for laser to
operate efficiently. The reason for mirrors in the cavity is to allow photons emitted by stimulated by stimulated
emission to grow more so that enough intensity is achieved before laser light comes out. One of the mirrors is
almost 100% reflecting in nature and the other one is partially reflecting (~95%) so that after desired intensity
being achieved it allows laser light to come out of this mirror by transmission.
When a gain medium is initially pumped, spontaneous emission takes place in all the directions. However, the
photons that directed along the optical axis of the mirror are reflected in such a way that they returns to gain
medium again. These photons again stimulate the emission of further photons. Eventually, a highly directional
beam evolves in the axial direction.
The essential condition for a laser light is the existence of cavity structure with appropriate combination of
mirror and the appropriate length of the cavity which allows certain frequencies to survive with appreciable
intensity by longitudinal and transverse mode selections. We may recall here that the necessary condition of
laser is population inversion and stimulated emission.
Longitudinal modes
We know that there exist several wavelengths in a laser stimulated emission due to the reasons of several
broadening effects. Wavelengths which satisfy the cavity boundary conditions are significantly enhanced. For
these individual wavelengths the corresponding electric field vectors have to be zero at the two mirrors ideally.
These are the wavelengths moving in the axial direction grow with intensity, for which extreme nodes exist at
the mirror surface. These are known as longitudinal modes. Rest all other wavelengths are lost in the cavity. If
L be the length of the cavity or the gain medium, then
Professor Atanu Dutta
1
Laser cavity and existence of modes
Laser cavity
A laser cavity consist of a laser medium, appropriate combination of mirror and a pumping source for laser to
operate efficiently. The reason for mirrors in the cavity is to allow photons emitted by stimulated by stimulated
emission to grow more so that enough intensity is achieved before laser light comes out. One of the mirrors is
almost 100% reflecting in nature and the other one is partially reflecting (~95%) so that after desired intensity
being achieved it allows laser light to come out of this mirror by transmission.
When a gain medium is initially pumped, spontaneous emission takes place in all the directions. However, the
photons that directed along the optical axis of the mirror are reflected in such a way that they returns to gain
medium again. These photons again stimulate the emission of further photons. Eventually, a highly directional
beam evolves in the axial direction.
The essential condition for a laser light is the existence of cavity structure with appropriate combination of
mirror and the appropriate length of the cavity which allows certain frequencies to survive with appreciable
intensity by longitudinal and transverse mode selections. We may recall here that the necessary condition of
laser is population inversion and stimulated emission.
Longitudinal modes
We know that there exist several wavelengths in a laser stimulated emission due to the reasons of several
broadening effects. Wavelengths which satisfy the cavity boundary conditions are significantly enhanced. For
these individual wavelengths the corresponding electric field vectors have to be zero at the two mirrors ideally.
These are the wavelengths moving in the axial direction grow with intensity, for which extreme nodes exist at
the mirror surface. These are known as longitudinal modes. Rest all other wavelengths are lost in the cavity. If
L be the length of the cavity or the gain medium, then
Professor Atanu Dutta
1
Laser cavity and existence of modes
Laser cavity
A laser cavity consist of a laser medium, appropriate combination of mirror and a pumping source for laser to
operate efficiently. The reason for mirrors in the cavity is to allow photons emitted by stimulated by stimulated
emission to grow more so that enough intensity is achieved before laser light comes out. One of the mirrors is
almost 100% reflecting in nature and the other one is partially reflecting (~95%) so that after desired intensity
being achieved it allows laser light to come out of this mirror by transmission.
When a gain medium is initially pumped, spontaneous emission takes place in all the directions. However, the
photons that directed along the optical axis of the mirror are reflected in such a way that they returns to gain
medium again. These photons again stimulate the emission of further photons. Eventually, a highly directional
beam evolves in the axial direction.
The essential condition for a laser light is the existence of cavity structure with appropriate combination of
mirror and the appropriate length of the cavity which allows certain frequencies to survive with appreciable
intensity by longitudinal and transverse mode selections. We may recall here that the necessary condition of
laser is population inversion and stimulated emission.
Longitudinal modes
We know that there exist several wavelengths in a laser stimulated emission due to the reasons of several
broadening effects. Wavelengths which satisfy the cavity boundary conditions are significantly enhanced. For
these individual wavelengths the corresponding electric field vectors have to be zero at the two mirrors ideally.
These are the wavelengths moving in the axial direction grow with intensity, for which extreme nodes exist at
the mirror surface. These are known as longitudinal modes. Rest all other wavelengths are lost in the cavity. If
L be the length of the cavity or the gain medium, then
Professor Atanu Dutta
2
=
2
where m represents the number of modes which survive to contribute to laser photons growth in intensity. If v
be the velocity of photon in the laser medium then the frequency f can be expressed as
=

=
2
=
2
where velocity v = c/ and is the refractive index of the medium.
The frequency difference of two consecutive modes in the survived wavelength spectrum is
= m- fm-1=
2
( +1) =
2
This indicated the spacing between two consecutive modes is independent of the number of modes. In some
lasers, the gain medium represents a fraction of the cavity length. So, if cavity and laser medium lengths are d
and L with corresponding refractive index
c
and
d
, then
=
2
1
( ) +
All the longitudinal modes will be at the laser output, if these modes have total intensity exceeding the various
optical losses in cavity.
Now,
= , =

= = =

= = =
2
=
2
=
2
, = /
Professor Atanu Dutta
2
=
2
where m represents the number of modes which survive to contribute to laser photons growth in intensity. If v
be the velocity of photon in the laser medium then the frequency f can be expressed as
=

=
2
=
2
where velocity v = c/ and is the refractive index of the medium.
The frequency difference of two consecutive modes in the survived wavelength spectrum is
= m- fm-1=
2
( +1) =
2
This indicated the spacing between two consecutive modes is independent of the number of modes. In some
lasers, the gain medium represents a fraction of the cavity length. So, if cavity and laser medium lengths are d
and L with corresponding refractive index
c
and
d
, then
=
2
1
( ) +
All the longitudinal modes will be at the laser output, if these modes have total intensity exceeding the various
optical losses in cavity.
Now,
= , =

= = =

= = =
2
=
2
=
2
, = /
Professor Atanu Dutta
2
=
2
where m represents the number of modes which survive to contribute to laser photons growth in intensity. If v
be the velocity of photon in the laser medium then the frequency f can be expressed as
=

=
2
=
2
where velocity v = c/ and is the refractive index of the medium.
The frequency difference of two consecutive modes in the survived wavelength spectrum is
= m- fm-1=
2
( +1) =
2
This indicated the spacing between two consecutive modes is independent of the number of modes. In some
lasers, the gain medium represents a fraction of the cavity length. So, if cavity and laser medium lengths are d
and L with corresponding refractive index
c
and
d
, then
=
2
1
( ) +
All the longitudinal modes will be at the laser output, if these modes have total intensity exceeding the various
optical losses in cavity.
Now,
= , =

= = =

= = =
2
=
2
=
2
, = /
Professor Atanu Dutta
3
Transverse modes
In physical cavity mirrors, length of the mirror is finite, circular in shape, slightly curved. So, the plane wave
solution of the modes is not true. These cause bending of photon beams and in transverse direction (beam
diameter) diagonal modes develop. As a result, interference patter evolves in beam diameter. Misalignments of
the mirrors increase the distortion further. Hence intensity distribution pattern develops in beam diameter
resulting in various transverse modes. In this regard, various transverse electromagnetic modes are calculated.
The intensity distributions are known as Gaussian mode, Hermite-Gaussian modes, Laguerre-Gaussian modes
etc. so on.
Small signal gain coefficient in laser cavity
We have already discussed in detail the concept and derived the expression in the class.
Professor Atanu Dutta
3
Transverse modes
In physical cavity mirrors, length of the mirror is finite, circular in shape, slightly curved. So, the plane wave
solution of the modes is not true. These cause bending of photon beams and in transverse direction (beam
diameter) diagonal modes develop. As a result, interference patter evolves in beam diameter. Misalignments of
the mirrors increase the distortion further. Hence intensity distribution pattern develops in beam diameter
resulting in various transverse modes. In this regard, various transverse electromagnetic modes are calculated.
The intensity distributions are known as Gaussian mode, Hermite-Gaussian modes, Laguerre-Gaussian modes
etc. so on.
Small signal gain coefficient in laser cavity
We have already discussed in detail the concept and derived the expression in the class.
Professor Atanu Dutta
3
Transverse modes
In physical cavity mirrors, length of the mirror is finite, circular in shape, slightly curved. So, the plane wave
solution of the modes is not true. These cause bending of photon beams and in transverse direction (beam
diameter) diagonal modes develop. As a result, interference patter evolves in beam diameter. Misalignments of
the mirrors increase the distortion further. Hence intensity distribution pattern develops in beam diameter
resulting in various transverse modes. In this regard, various transverse electromagnetic modes are calculated.
The intensity distributions are known as Gaussian mode, Hermite-Gaussian modes, Laguerre-Gaussian modes
etc. so on.
Small signal gain coefficient in laser cavity
We have already discussed in detail the concept and derived the expression in the class.
Professor Atanu Dutta
4
Tutorial for the CAT 2 portion
Value of k = 1.3810
-23
J K
-1
=8.61 10
-5
eV K
-1
Value of h = 4.135 10
-15
eV s
1cm
-1
=1.239 10
-4
eV
kT at room temperature (300K) = 8.61 10
-5
eV K
-1
300 = 0.0259 eV
1. In thermal equilibrium, at 300K, the ratio of level populations (N
2
/N
1
) for some particular pair of levels is given
by 1/e. Calculate the frequency for this transition. In what region this frequency falls in em radiation?
2. If level 1 and level 2 are separated by E2-E1so that corresponding transition frequency falls in visible colour of
550 nm, calculate the ratio of the population at room temperature.
3. Consider a lower energy level situated 200 cm
-1
above the ground state (E
0
= 0). There is no other energy level
nearby. Determine the fraction of population found in this level w.r.t. ground state at 300K.
4. The spontaneous to stimulated emission rate has to be calculated for a tungsten bulb at temperature 2000K, while
the emission line is 600 nm.
5. Calculate the number of possible longitudinal modes in He-Ne laser having cavity length 1m. What is the
separation between two consecutive modes? Consider r.i. = 1.
6. In the above example, if the laser gain profile band width is 500 MHz, how many longitudinal modes are
possible? If band width is 140 MHz, then state whether cavity is stable or not.
7. A He-Ne laser with a 20 cm long cavity, lasing at 632.8 nm. What is the frequency gap for two consecutive
modes? Also find the wavelength spacing.
8. For a silicon laser diode the cavity length is 300 m and peak frequency is 800 nm. How many wavelengths will
fit into cavity? R.i.=3.48 for silicon. If the frequency bandwidth is 20010
9
Hz then find maximum number of
modes possible in such cavity.
9. A laser has a cavity length 400 m with refractive index 3.5. The peak emission is 0.8 m. Find longitudinal
mode order and consecutive frequency gap.
10. The length of a cavity is 0.25 cm and refractive index of medium = 1. Calculate
m
for m = 1, 10, 100 and 10
6
.
Also calculate corresponding frequency f
m
values.
11. A cavity medium has gain (I/I
0
) 1.05 for a length of cavity 30 cm. R
1
and R
2
are 95% and 99.9% respectively. If
the volume loss is 1.34 10-4, find the gain coefficient
g
.
12. Calculate the temporal coherence (l
c
) of laser light emitting 546.1 nm with an emission bandwidth = 6 10
8
Hz. Calculate the same value for He-Ne laser having = 6 10
6
Hz.
13. Laser source (10 nm) emitting photons from two spatially located points separated by 100 m. At a distance of
0.5 m, find the spatial coherence length (l
s
) and state the significance of this result.
14. If the stimulated to spontaneous emission rate is equal to 1 and the system is at 300K, find the critical frequency
below which spontaneous emission dominates the process.
15. Find the temperature of the system of two energy levels, for which the stimulated to spontaneous emission rate is
equal to 1 and a light of energy 2.5 eV is emitted. What is the significance of this outcome?