UNIT 2: LASER AND APPLICATIONS

LECTURE 5

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tio94pD-lPQ&t=131s

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Revision Lecture 1 to 4
2

When a photon of energy (h) travel through a material three

different processes occurs

1. Induced Absorption,
2. Spontaneous Emission
3. Stimulated Emission

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

Populations of energy levels is given
by Boltzmann’s distribution
3

𝑅𝑎𝑏 = 𝑅𝑠𝑝 + 𝑅𝑠𝑡

Absorption rate, Rab
Stimulated Emission rate, Rst
Spontaneous Emission rate, Rsp

Photon density ()

Planck’s law
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Ratios of stimulated emission rate to rate of spontaneous
emission and rate of induced absorption will give us an Idea
about what we need to realize LASER

To have LASER action dominant Stimulated emission is required

For that, we have to have high R1 and R2
1. Population inversion, N2>> N1

2. High photon density ()

3. Metastable state B21>A21

1. POPULATION INVERSION by Pumping

2. METASTABLE STATE to increase life time in the excited state
3. Large photon density () –Optical resonant cavity and photon confinement

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Components of LASER
1. Active medium- metastable state to reduce A21
5
2. Pump- population inversion to realize N2>>N1
3. Optical resonant cavity- confinement to increase 

Known as the condition for Lasing

Eq.2 Known as the threshold condition

for commencing Lasing

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

Important characteristics of the laser beam
 Coherence
 Monochromaticity
 Collimation
 Directionality Types of Lasers
 Negligible divergence
1. Solid state laser
 High intensity
a) Ruby laser (first laser)
b) Nd-YAG Laser
2. Gas Laser
First Laser: Ruby laser.; a a) CO2 laser
solid state laser with three b) CO Laser
c) Nitrogen laser
level system
d) Hydrogen laser
e)He-Ne Laser (first gas laser)
3. Liquid laser
Dye laser
4. Semiconductor laser
Laser diode- pn junction

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Quick Quiz Response on the 21/02/2023 Lecture

No Question Attempts Right Wrong

1 Why lasers are used in “Laser
Printers”
2 In the following which is a three
level laser system
3 In the following which is a four
level laser system

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

8

What is the principle of Semiconductor lasers

a) Electron-hole recombination
b) Depletion of electron
c) Depletion of holes
d) None of these

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
9

Why lasers are used in “Laser Printers”

a) They can be focused down to very small spot sizes for high
resolution
b) They are cheap
c) They are impossible to damage
d) Easy to refill

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
10

In the following which is a three level laser system

a) Ruby Laser
b) CO2 Laser
c) He-Ne Laser
d) Nd-YAG Laser

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
11

In the following which is a four level laser system

a) CO2 Laser
b) He-Ne Laser
c) Nd-YAG Laser
d) All of the above
e) None of the above

Ans: D
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
12

Which of the following is an example of optical pumping?

a) Ruby laser
b) Helium-Neon laser
c) Semiconductor laser
d) Dye laser

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Fundamentals of laser

1.Active medium- metastable state to reduce A21

13
2.Pump- population inversion to realize N2>>N1
3.Optical resonant cavity- confinement to increase 

Coherent
Monochromatic
Collimated

(i) Large photon density () –Optical resonant cavity

(ii)Large life time of atoms in the excited state- Metastable state
1.Solid state laser
(iii)Large number of excited atoms - population inversion Nd-YAG Laser
Types of Lasers
2.Gas Laser
He-Ne Laser (first gas laser)
3.Liquid laser
Dye laser
Metastable state- Active centers, Lasing medium 4. Semiconductor laser
Optical resonator, oscillator, positive feed back, mirrors Laser diode- pn junction electrons-holes
recombination
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 LECTURE SCHEDULE

14/02/23 Lecture 1: Fundamentals of laser- energy levels in atoms, Radiation

matter interaction, Absorption of light, Spontaneous emission of light,
stimulated emission of light, Einstein A and B coefficients
15/02/23 Lecture 2: Fundamentals of Laser-, Population of energy levels, Einstein’s
relation, Metastable state, population inversion, Resonant cavity
17/02/23 Lecture 3: Fundamentals of Laser:, Components of Laser, Excitation
mechanisms, Lasing action, properties of laser
21/02/23 Lecture 4:, Type of Lasers: Nd - YAG, He-Ne Laser, Semiconductor Laser

22/02/23 Lecture 5: Applications of laser: Holography

28/02/23 LECTURE; Class TEST 1 (CA2) for Units 1 and 2

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Applications of laser
15

LASERs are used everywhere

1. Science
 To study the properties of material, structure, Raman scattering, material
synthesis, thin film preparation by laser ablation, heat treatment for
hardening metals, annealing/sintering for densification/phase formation of
material.. To study the atmospheric pollutants distribution and identification

2. Industry
• Used for welding, cutting of materials, machining and drilling holes
• Electronic industry: information processing, communication ( fiber optic),
Information storage (holography), optical memory cards
• In printers, barcode scanners, CD players,
• Guiding missiles to the target
3. Medicine
 Eye surgery, treatment of dental decay, skin diseases
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Holography
16

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Holography
17

Gabor: Nobel Prize 1971

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
18

The single most important performance characteristic

required when considering lasers for holographic
applications

A. Long Coherence length

B. Multiple wavelength
C. Dispersion
D. Diffraction

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Holography
19

Is a two-step process
1. Recording of the hologram
2. Reconstruction of the image from the hologram

 No lenses are required compared to conventional photography. But need other

more complicated procedures.
 Coherent wave required--- so Laser is needed
 A reference beam also required along with the laser beam scattered from the
object to be imaged– so a beam splitter needed
 Two mirrors to reflect the beam to photographic plate- interference
 The photographic plate is a photosensitive material like in conventional
photography

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Holography-recording
20

Object wave is spherical wave front Both interfere on the

Reference wave is plane wave front photographic plane surface
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Holography- Recording
21

Hologram Developed negative is the Hologram..

formed accordance with the light
intensity ( amplitude) reflected from
the object and phase.. Three
dimensional information.. No distinct
image of the object.
Just the information about the
amplitude and phase at each point of
the object

In photography negative image is

formed accordance with the light
intensity (amplitude only) reflected
from the object.. Two dimensional
information
Interference pattern
A small portion contain all information of
the object?
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
22

The object wave front (laser reflected from the object) is

A. Plane
B. Spherical
C. Elliptical
D. Cylindrical

Ans: B
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
23

The reference wave front (laser from beam splitter) is

A. Plane
B. Spherical
C. Elliptical
D. Cylindrical

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Holography-Reconstruction
24

For viewing the image – need reconstruction with the recorded hologram

Can be photographed

Interference fringes acts as diffraction grating

A diffraction grating defines an optical component with a
periodic structure that splits the light into various beams that
travel in different directions.
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
25

If the image appears between you and the hologram it is a

a) real image
b) virtual image
c) Both
d) None of these

Ans: A
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
26

If the hologram is between you and the image then it is called

a) real image
b) virtual image
c) Both
d) None of these

Ans: B
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 Holography-Reconstruction
27

Image developed
from the negative

Hologram image photographed

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Holography-Applications
28

Medical applications

 Ophthalmology
 Endoscopy
 Otology
 Orthopedics

Holographic interferometry is used for non-destructive testing of

materials

Information storage, optical data storage

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

29

The image produced by holography is

(a) One dimensional

(b) Two dimensional
(c) Three dimensional
(d) None of these

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

30

Hologram contains the information about

(a)Amplitude of the object

(b)Phase of the object
(c)Both amplitude and phase of the object
(d)None of these

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

31

Hologram is the result of

(a)interference of object and reference beam

(b)polarization of the object and reference beam
(c)diffraction of the object and reference beam
(d)both (a) and (b)

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

32

Which of the following is an example of Electrical pumping?

a) Ruby laser
b) Helium-Neon laser
c)Both a and b
d) None of these

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Bar code scanner
33

A barcode scanner has three different parts i) illumination

system, ii) the sensor, and iii) the decoder.

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

Barcode scanners read the black-and-white zebra lines on products extremely quickly
and feed that information to a computer or checkout terminal, which can identify them
34
immediately using a product database.

Here's how they do it.

For the sake of this simple example, let's assume that barcodes are simple on-off,
binary patterns with each black line corresponding to a one and each white line a zero.

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

35
1. Scanning head shines laser light onto barcode.
2. Light reflects back off barcode into a light-detecting electronic
component called a photodiode. White areas of the barcode
reflect most light; black areas reflect least.
3. As the scanner moves past the barcode, the cell generates a
pattern of on-off pulses that correspond to the black and white
stripes. So for the code shown here ("black black black white
black white black black"), the cell would be "off off off on off on
off off."
4. An electronic circuit attached to the scanner converts these on-
off pulses into digits.
5. The digital data from the scanner is sent to a computer program,
which figures out the final barcode

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 LASER Pointer
36

Laser pointers are compact devices that produce a low-power, visible LASER
light using semiconductor diode. LASER pointers are used for pointing out
features on visual display.
Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023
 1962, the first semiconductor laser was created. Also known as
diode lasers, this technology made laser pointers more affordable
37
and accessible to the mass market.

Laser pointers have three

important components:
lasing medium, energy
source, and a resonator.

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

 Syllabus

UNIT II: Lasers and applications

Fundamentals of laser- Energy levels in atoms, Radiation
matter interaction, Absorption of light, spontaneous emission of light,
stimulated emission of light, Einstein A and B coefficients, Population
of energy levels, Einstein's relations, metastable state, population
inversion, resonant cavity, excitation mechanisms, lasing action,
properties of laser.
Types of Lasers: Nd - YAG, He-Ne Laser, Semiconductor Laser,
Applications of laser in engineering: holography

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023

39

Prof. Reji Thomas DRC-DRD February 22, 2023