Question # 2: [20]

a. The 3-level Ruby laser system is shown in figure (a). If transitions from E3 to E2 are very
fast, and the spontaneous decay time from E2 to E1 is 𝜏𝑠𝑝 , obtain an expression for the minimum
pumping power needed (the power that must be absorbed by the laser medium) for population
inversion (N2>N1).

b. Consider a 60 mm long ruby crystal with 6 mm diameter, doped with 2 × 1020 Cr3+ ions
𝑐𝑚−3. The spontaneous decay time is 3 ms. Using the above-obtained expression, find the
minimum power that must be absorbed if the excitation is to the band of energies in the blue
around (~3.1 eV) in figure (b).

(a) (b)