Inversion population

If the temperature were raised, more molecules would attain the excited state, but even at 50,000°C there would be only one excited-state atom for every two ground-state atoms, and stimulated emission would not produce a large cascade effect. To reach the excess of stimulated emissions needed to build a large cascade (lasing), the population of excited-state molecules must exceed that of the ground state, preferably at normal ambient temperatures. This situation of an excess of excited-state over ground-state molecules is called a population inversion in order to contrast it with normal ground-state conditions. 

If all spins ( 1/2) in an atom or molecule are paired (equal numbers of spin +1/2 and -1/2), the total spin must be zero, and that state is described as a singlet (total spin, S = 0 and the state is described by the term 2S + 1 = 1). When a singlet ground-state atom or molecule absorbs a photon, a valence electron of spin 1/2 moves to a higher energy level but maintains the same 

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A logical consequence of this trend is a quantum w ell laser in which tire active region is reduced furtlier, to less tlian 10 nm. The 2D carrier confinement in tire wells (fonned by tire CB and VB discontinuities) changes many basic semiconductor parameters, in particular tire density of states in tire CB and VB, which is greatly reduced in quantum well lasers. This makes it easier to achieve population inversion and results in a significant reduction in tire tlireshold carrier density. Indeed, quantum well lasers are characterized by tlireshold current densities lower tlian 100 A cm . ... 

Legay-Sommaire N and Legay F 1980 Observation of a strong vibrational population inversion by CO laser exoitation of pure solid oarbon monoxide IEEE J. Quantum Electron. 16 308-14... 

The timing of the emission is clearly dependent on the system in use. For example, if pumping is relatively slow and stimulated emission is fast, then the emergent beam of laser light will appear as a short pulse (subsequent lasing must await sufficient population inversion). This behavior is... 

If a triplet-state molecule (A ) meets a singlet-state molecule (B ), a short-lived complex can be formed (an exciplex). In the latter, the molecules exchange energy, returning to its singlet state (A ) and B raised to its triplet state (B ). If the new triplet state is relatively long-lived, it can serve to produce the population inversion needed for lasing, as in the He/Ne laser. 

Commonly, a three-level or four-level system, illustrated in Figures 9.2(b) and 9.2(c), is necessary for population inversion to be obtained between two of the levels. 

In the three-level system of Figure 9.2(b) population inversion between levels 2 and 1 is achieved by pumping the 3-1 transition. The 3-2 process must be efficient and fast in order to build up the population of level 2 while that of level 1 is depleted. Lasing occurs in the 2-1 transition. 

The four-level system in Figure 9.2(c) is even more efficient in the creation of a population inversion, in this case between levels 3 and 2. The reason for the greater efficiency is that, not only is level 3 populated through the fast 4-3 process, but the population of level 2 is rapidly depleted by the fast 2-1 process. 

Population inversion is difficult not only to achieve but also to maintain. Indeed, for many laser systems there is no method of pumping which will maintain a population inversion continuously. For such systems inversion can be brought about only by means of a pumping source which delivers short, high-energy pulses. The result is a pulsed laser as opposed to a continuous wave, or CW, laser which operates continuously. 

The and 72 states are broadened as a result of slight variations in the crystal field. The 72 and E states are sharper but the E state is split into two components, 29 cm apart, because of the slight distortion of the octahedral field. Population inversion and... 

These ion lasers are very inefficient, partly because energy is required first to ionize the atom and then to produce the population inversion. This inefficiency leads to a serious problem of heat dissipation, which is partly solved by using a plasma tube, in which a low-voltage high-current discharge is created in the Ar or Kr gas, made from beryllium oxide, BeO, which is an efficient heat conductor. Water cooling of the tube is also necessary. 

Such a situation suggests the possibility of creating a population inversion and laser action between two such states, since any molecules in the repulsive ground state have an extremely short lifetime, typically a few picoseconds. A laser operating by this mechanism is a... 

The potential for laser acfivify is nof anyfhing we can demand of any atom or molecule. We should regard if as accidenfal fhaf among fhe exfremely complex sefs of energy levels associated wifh a few atoms or molecules fhere happens to be one (or more) pairs befween which if is possible to produce a population inversion and fhereby create a laser. 

Figure lb shows a four-level system. The terminal level, level 2, is ordinarily empty. Atoms are optically pumped to level 4. From level 4, the atoms make a rapid radiationless transition to level 3. The first few atoms to arrive begin to contribute to the population inversion. Therefore, laser operation can begin with much less intense pumping light. After the laser transition, the atoms return to the ground state (level 1) by a radiationless transition. 

A third pumping method (Fig. Ic) uses an electrical discharge in a mixture of gases. It relies on electronic excitation of the first component of the gas mixture, so that those atoms are raised to an upper energy level. The two components are chosen so that there can be a resonant transfer of energy by collisions from the upper level of the first component to level 3 of the second component. Because there are no atoms in level 2, this produces a population inversion between level 3 and level 2. After laser emission, the atoms in the second component return to the ground state by collisions. 

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