LASER
(semiconducting Lasers)
Lecture Contents
Definition of lasers Emission and absorption of radiation Population Inversion Semiconducting lasers Materials used for semiconducting laser Laser for fibre optics communication Quantum Well devices
EBB 424 Lecture Presentation EBB 424 Short Lecture Notes summarising all of the above.
Lecture: Laser
Objectives (by the end of the lectures on laser student will be)
1. 2. 3. 4. Able to state the definition of laser Able to state the principle of population inversion Able to explain the principle of semiconducting laser Familiarise with the concept of light simulation and polarisation Able to list down all materials criteria and materials selection for a given semiconducting laser compound. Able to highlight several examples of the application of laser.
5.
6.
Diode Laser
1. Definition of laser
A laser is a device that generates light by a process called STIMULATED EMISSION. The acronym LASER stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation Semiconducting lasers are multilayer semiconductor devices that generates a coherent beam of monochromatic light by laser action. A coherent beam resulted which all of the photons are in phase.
Absorption
And subsequently, spontaneous emission of energy There is another process whereby the atom in an upper energy level can be triggered or stimulated in phase with the an incoming photon. This process is: Stimulated emission It is an important process for laser action
Therefore 3 process of light emission:
Absorption
E1
E2
Spontaneous Emission
Stimulated Emission
Background Physics
In 1917 Einstein predicted that:
under certain circumstances a photon incident upon a material can generate a second photon of
Exactly Phase Polarisation Direction
of propagation
In
Background Physics
Consider the stimulated emission as shown previously. Stimulated emission is the basis of the laser action. The two photons that have been produced can then generate more photons, and the 4 generated can generate 16 etc etc which could result in a cascade of intense monochromatic radiation.
E2 h
E2 h In
E2 h Out h
E1
E1
E1
(a) Absorption
Stimulated Emission
Background Physics
In a system, all three mechanisms occur. However the stimulated emission is very very sluggish compared to the spontaneous emission We need to have a much stimulated emission as possible for lasing action How? Refer to the board for the derivation of the Einsteins
Einstein;s
Absorption
Light that falls on a piece of material will decrease exponentially. = (N1-N2)B21(hf) n/c N1 is often more than N2 (N1 < N2) Example for tungsten
is typically 106m-1 (+ve)
Population Inversion
Therefore we must have a mechanism where N2 > N1 This is called POPULATION INVERSION Population inversion can be created by introducing a so call metastable centre where electrons can piled up to achieve a situation where more N2 than N1 The process of attaining a population inversion is called pumping and the objective is to obtain a non-thermal equilibrium. It is not possible to achieve population inversion with a 2-state system. If the radiation flux is made very large the probability of stimulated emission and absorption can be made far exceed the rate of spontaneous emission. But in 2-state system, the best we can get is N1 = N2. To create population inversion, a 3-state system is required. The system is pumped with radiation of energy E31 then atoms in state 3 relax to state 2 non radiatively. The electrons from E2 will now jump to E1 to give out radiation.
3 states system
Population Inversion
When a sizable population of electrons resides in upper levels, this condition is called a "population inversion", and it sets the stage for stimulated emission of multiple photons. This is the precondition for the light amplification which occurs in a LASER and since the emitted photons have a definite time and phase relation to each other, the light has a high degree of coherence.
Optical Feedback
The probability of photon producing a stimulated emission event can be increased by reflecting back through the medium several times. A device is normally fashioned in such a way that the 2 ends are made higly reflective This is term an oscillator cavity or Fabry Perot cavity
Therefore in a laser.
Three key elements in a laser Pumping process prepares amplifying medium in suitable state Optical power increases on each pass through amplifying medium If gain exceeds loss, device will oscillate, generating a coherentoutput