Understanding LASER Technology

What does LASER stand for?

• Light Absorption by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

• Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation

• Laser Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Light

• Light Amplification by Spontaneous Emission of Radiation

List three characteristics of LASER light.

• Diffusion

• 1. Coherence 2. Monochromaticity 3. Directionality

• Randomness

• Polychromaticity

Explain the process of stimulated emission in LASERs.

• Stimulated emission is the process where an excited electron emits a photon, resulting in two coherent photons, which is fundamental to laser operation.

• Stimulated emission occurs when a photon is absorbed by an electron, causing it to lose energy.

• Stimulated emission is the process where two electrons collide and create a photon together.

• Stimulated emission involves the spontaneous release of energy from a laser medium without any external influence.

What are the main components required for a laser system?

• Laser pointer, power supply, lens

• Reflective surface, cooling system, filter

• Light source, beam splitter, detector

• Gain medium, pump source, optical cavity

Describe the interaction of radiation with matter.

• Radiation interacts with matter through absorption, scattering, and transmission.

• Radiation only reflects off matter.

• Radiation can only be transmitted without interaction.

• Radiation has no effect on matter.

What is the role of the gain medium in a laser?

• The gain medium absorbs light to create energy.

• The gain medium amplifies light through stimulated emission.

• The gain medium reflects light to enhance brightness.

• The gain medium cools the laser to prevent overheating.

How does a semiconductor laser differ from other types of lasers?

• A semiconductor laser is made entirely of gas, unlike solid-state lasers.

• A semiconductor laser emits light through thermal radiation rather than stimulated emission.

• A semiconductor laser operates only at room temperature unlike other lasers.

• A semiconductor laser uses a p-n junction for light emission, differing from gas and solid-state lasers in material and mechanism.

What are the advantages of using semiconductor lasers?

• High power consumption

• Advantages of using semiconductor lasers include compact size, high efficiency, low power consumption, integration capability, wide wavelength range, and fast modulation.

• Limited wavelength range

• Large size and weight

Explain the construction of a typical semiconductor laser.

• A semiconductor laser is made from a single type of semiconductor material.

• The construction of a semiconductor laser involves a series of optical fibers without mirrors.

• A typical semiconductor laser uses a gas-filled tube instead of a p-n junction.

• A typical semiconductor laser is constructed using a p-n junction diode with a resonant cavity formed by mirrors.

What is the principle behind the operation of a semiconductor laser?

• The principle of electron capture in a metal.

• The principle of spontaneous emission in a gas.

• The principle of stimulated emission of radiation in a semiconductor material.

• The principle of thermal radiation in a dielectric material.