TOPICS TO BE COVERED

Lasers (introduction and history) Theory of lasers Stimulated and spontaneous emissions Characteristics of lasers Different types of lasers (construction and working) Applications

In defense Communication Industries and medicines

LASER

Laser is a acronym of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiations It is a devise to produce intense, coherent, monochromatic, directional and highly parallel beam of light For example:

A crowd of dissimilar people can be termed as a normal light whereas a platoon of well formed soldiers can be taken as laser.

HISTORY

1913 Einstein's work on stimulated emission. 1954 Einsteins theory of stimulated emissions was used by Charles Townes in construction of MASER. 1958 MASER principle was extended to optical frequency by Schawlow and Townes leading to the realisation of LASER

HISTORY

1960 First solid state laser was discovered by Maiman using Ruby crystal 1961 First gas laser namely HeliumNion laser was discovered by Ali Javan 1961 First Fiber laser was discovered by Elias Snitzen 1962 First Semiconductor laser was discovered 1963 Carbon di oxide laser discovered by CKN Patel

THEORY OF LASERS

Laser action is based upon the amplification of electromagnetic oscillations by means of forced or induced molecule or atom Laser uses three fundamental phenomena when a electromagnetic wave interact with matter:

Spontaneous emission Stimulated emission Absorption

ABSORPTION

The atom in ground state absorbs energy from the photon and goes to excited state The lifetime of atom in excited state is very small ; of the order of 10-8 Sec. Atom in ground state + photon ---- atom in excited state

ABSORPTION
E2

E1

SPONTANEOUS EMISSION

Atom in excited state returns back to ground state after expiring of lifetime The excess energy appears as a photon The process is spontaneous and we dont have any control on the generation or the direction of the photon Excited atom Atom in ground state + photon

SPONTANEOUS EMISSION
E2

PHOTON

E1

STIMULATED EMISSION

When a photon of appropriate energy is incident on an matter, atoms in excited state makes a transition from excited state to ground state. Two photon are generated having same phase, energy and direction Atom in excited state + Photon Atom in ground state + 2 Photons

STIMULATED EMISSION
E2

PHOTON

E1

POPULATION INVERSION

Population density of atoms in ground state is more then the excited state Lifetime of atoms in excited state is very less Due to above mentioned facts there are very less stimulated emissions when radiation are passed through the atoms To get intense beam of coherent light we should have more atoms in excited state

POPULATION INVERSION

It is the process of lifting the atoms from ground level to the higher energy level by giving extra energy to get higher population density in higher energy level as compared to ground level This can be achieved by having three energy levels

POPULATION INVERSION
E2 Metastable state (M)

POPULATION INVERSION
E2 Metastable state (M)

E1

PUMPING

Pumping is the process of supplying energy to the laser medium with a view of transforming it into the state of population inversion.

METHODS OF PUMPING

Optical pumping Electrical discharge Inelastic collisions Chemical reactions Direct conversion of electrical energy

CHARACTERISTICS OF LASER

Directionality Divergence Intensity Coherence Monochromaticity

DIVERGENCE (NORMAL LIGHT)

DIVERGENCE (LASER)

LASER ACTION
E2 Metastable state (M)

E1 E1

RUBY LASER

It was first successful solid laser It was fabricated by TH Maiman in 1960 Population inversion is achieved by optical source Source used is Xenon flash lamp

RUBY LASER (CONSTRUCTION)

It consist of a single crystal of ruby about 4 cm in length and .5 cm in diameter End of the crystal are completely flat One end if completely silvered whereas other end is partially silvered (10 %) In ruby crystal the aluminum oxide is doped with chromium ions (for good action 0.05 % of AL2O3 ions are to be replaced)

RUBY LASER (CONSTRUCTION)

The Ruby crystal is placed inside a transparent cooling chamber with inlet and outlet pipes for circulation of coolant This full setup is placed inside a flash lamp The flash tube is connected to a capacitor

RUBY Ruby Crystal (CONSTRUCTION) LASER Partial reflector 100% Reflector

Xenon flash lamp

Coolant Outlet

Coolant inlet

RUBY LASER (WORKING)

When battery is switched on the capacitor gets charged and while discharging they release several thousand joules of energy This results in power output of few megawatts from flash lamp Energy is absorbed by the chromium ions and they moves to higher energy state Population inversion takes place producing high intensity monochromatic radiation

ENERGY LEVEL DIAGRAME

E2 4200 A

E1 5600 A

Non-Radiative transition

E3 Meta stable state

6927 A

6943 A

HELIUM-NEON LASER

This LASER was fabricated by Ali Javan and his co-workers at Bell telephone laboratory in 1961. This the first successful LASER which gives continuous beam of light. Atoms in the gas are pumped to higher levels by electric discharge.

HELIUM-NEON LASER (CONSTRUCTION)

It consists of a Discharge tube of 1 cm of diameter and about 80 cm length. Discharge tube consisting of a mixture of He and Neon in the ratio 10:1. The pressure of the tube is maintained at 1 mm Hg. Ends of the tube are closed with two plan mirrors one of which is fully reflective and other if partial reflector. An electric discharge is created using sealed electrodes and RF generator.

He Ne

HELIUM-NEON LASER (WORKING)

When the electric discharge takes place in the discharge tube, the charges in the discharge tube are ionized. Because of the ionization free electrons starts accelerating. The highly energetic electrons collides with the He atoms and transfer them to the higher energy state. He atoms in higher energy state collides with the Ne atoms and excites them to excited state, increasing the population of excited state. Thus the population inversion is achieved.

21

5S

21S0
4P

20

23S1 4S

19

3P
18

17 3S

11S0

11S0

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER (Energy Levels of Co2 )

Energy levels in molecule:

In case of Co2 molecules the constituent atoms vibrate in respect to each other and the molecule as a whole rotates about its own axis. These vibrations and rotations of the molecule leads to various vibrational and rotational energy levels in addition to the electronic levels. In the energy level diagram E1, E2, E3, E4.. Are the electronic levels, v, v.are the vibrational energy levels and j, j, j are the rotational energy levels. In Carbon-di-Oxide laser the transitions takes place between these vibrational and rotational energy levels.

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER (Energy Levels of Co2 )

V =1 V =0 E2 V = 1

V = 0
E1

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER (Modes of vibration of Co2)

The constituent atoms of Co2 vibrates in three modes as listed below:Symmetric stretching mode:-

Bending Mode:-

Asymmetric mode:-

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER (Introduction and construction)

Carbon-di-oxide laser was the first molecular gas laser.

Discovered by Indian scientist CKN Patel in 1963. Laser is highly efficient and have high power output. Laser can operate in both pulse and continuous mode.

Construction:- There are two important parts of Laser

Active Medium Gas Discharge Tube

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER (CONSTRUCTION)

The Active medium used in Co2 Laser is a mixture of Co2, N2 and He gases. The active centers are Co2 molecules whereas N2 molecules are used for efficient excitation of the Co2 molecules. He atoms are used for conduction heat from center of the tube to the walls, keeping the active center cold. It is also used to depopulate the lower level due to its high thermal conductivity.

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER (CONSTRUCTION)

The discharge tube is made up of fused quartz crystals. The diameter of the tube is 2.5 cm and length is 5 cm. The ends of the tube are tilted at the Brewster angle called Brewster window. A set of concave mirrors are placed at either ends, one of which is fully reflecting and other is partially reflection. The Excitation is provided by electric discharge.

CARBON-DI-OXIDE LASER He N Co (CONSTRUCTION)

2 2

To Vacuum pump

Electron Co2

N2 He

TYPES OF LASERS (GAS LASERS)

LASER GAIN MEDIUM Helium-neon laser OPERATION WAVELENGTH(S) 632.8 nm PUMP SOURCE Electrical discharge APPLICATIONS AND NOTES holography, spectroscopy, bar, alignment, optical demonstrations. Retinal phototherapy (for diabetes), microscopy, spectroscopy pumping other lasers. Scientific research, mixed with argon to create "white-light" lasers, light shows. Pumping of dye lasers, measuring air pollution, scientific research.

Argon laser

454.6 nm, 488.0 nm, 514.5 nm Electrical discharge

Krypton laser

416 nm, 530.9 nm, 568.2 nm, 647.1 nm, 676.4 nm, 752.5 nm, 799.3 nm
337.1 nm

Electrical discharge

Nitrogen laser

Electrical discharge

Carbon dioxide laser 10.6 m, (9.4 m)

Transverse (high power) Material processing or longitudinal (low power) (cutting, welding, etc.), electrical discharge surgery.

TYPES OF LASERS (CHEMICAL LASERS)

LASER GAIN MEDIUM Hydrogen fluoride laser OPERATION WAVELENGTH(S) 2.7 to 2.9 m for Hydrogen fluoride (<80% Atmospheric transmittance) ~3800 nm (3.6 to 4.2 m) (~90% Atm. transmittance) 1.315 m (<70% Atmospheric transmittance) PUMP SOURCE Chemical reaction in a burning jet of ethylene and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) chemical reaction APPLICATIONS AND NOTES Used in research for laser weaponry

Deuterium fluoride laser COIL (Chemical oxygen-iodine laser)

Pulsed Energy Projectile & Tactical High Energy Laser Chemical reaction in a jet Laser weaponry, scientific of singlet delta oxygen and materials research, and iodine

Dye lasers

390-435 nm (stilbene), 460515 nm (coumarin 102), 570-640 nm (rhodamine 6G), many others

Other laser, flashlamp

Research, spectroscopy, birthmark removal, isotope separation.

TYPES OF LASERS (SOLID STATE LASERS)

LASER GAIN MEDIUM OPERATION WAVELENGTH(S) PUMP SOURCE APPLICATIONS AND NOTES

Ruby laser

694.3 nm

Flashlamp

Nd:YAG laser

1.064 m, (1.32 m)

Flashlamp, laser diode

Er:YAG laser Neodymium glass (Nd:Glass) laser

2.94 m ~1.062 m (Silicate glasses), ~1.054 m (Phosphate glasses)

Flashlamp, laser diode Flashlamp, laser diode

Holography, tattoo removal. The first type of visible light laser invented; May 1960. Material processing, range finding, laser target designation, surgery, research, pumping other lasers Dentistry
Used in extremely high power (terawatt scale), high energy (mega joules) multiple beam systems for inertial confinement fusion.

TYPES OF LASERS (SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS)

LASER GAIN MEDIUM GaN OPERATION WAVELENGTH(S) 0.4 m PUMP SOURCE APPLICATIONS AND NOTES Optical discs.

AlGaAs

0.63-0.9 m

Optical discs, laser pointers, data communications. 780 nm Compact Disc player laser is the most common laser type in the world. Solidstate laser pumping, machining, medical.
Telecommunications, solidstate laser pumping, machining, medical.. Telecommunications

InGaAsP
Vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL)

1.0-2.1 m
850 - 1500 nm, depending on material

TYPES OF LASERS (METAL-VAPOR LASERS)

LASER GAIN MEDIUM Helium-cadmium (HeCd) metal-vapor laser OPERATION WAVELENGTH(S) 441.563 nm, 325 nm PUMP SOURCE Electrical discharge in metal vapor mixed with helium buffer gas. APPLICATIONS AND NOTES Printing and typesetting applications, paper currency printing), scientific research.

Helium-mercury (HeHg) metal-vapor laser Helium-selenium (HeSe) metal-vapor laser Helium-silver (HeAg) metal-vapor laser Neon-copper (NeCu) metal-vapor laser Laser gain medium

567 nm, 615 nm up to 24 wavelengths between red and UV 224.3

Rare, scientific research, Rare, scientific research, amateur laser construction. Scientific research

248.6

Operation wavelength(s)

Electrical discharge in metal vapor mixed with neon buffer gas. Pump source

Scientific research

Applications and notes

SPECTRAL DIAGRAM FOR LASERS

APPLICATIONS
Application

of lasers can be broadly classified in to following : Medical Industries Defense Science and technology

MEDICAL

Cosmetic surgery (removing tattoos, scars, stretch marks, sunspots, wrinkles, birthmarks, and hairs Eye surgery and refractive surgery Soft tissue surgery: CO2, Er:YAG laser Photobiomodulation (i.e. laser therapy) "No-Touch" removal of tumors, especially of the brain and spinal cord. In dentistry for tooth whitening, and oral surgery.

INDUSTRY

They are used in drilling fine holes (even square holes) They are used for cutting hard materials like diamond Used for quality measurement of diamond and polishing of diamond They are used in welding Used in construction industry in direction and length measurement They are used in fabricating microelectronic circuits Used in holography Used in CD ROMs in computers Used in optical communication Used in light and entertainment programmers

INDUSTRY

Barcode readers Laser engraving of printing plate Laser bonding of additive marking materials for decoration and identification, Laser pointers Writing subtitles onto motion picture films 3D laser scanners for accurate 3D measurement. Extensively in both consumer and industrial imaging equipment.

DEFENSE
Defensive countermeasures Target locking Ranging Firearms Laser sight Used in communication Used as a guiding system

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Spectroscopy Lunar laser ranging Material processing Photochemistry Laser cooling Nuclear fusion Microscopy

CD ROMS (Stamped CD)

A CD is a fairly simple piece of plastic, about 1.2 mm thick. Most of a CD consists of an piece of clear polycarbonate plastic. During manufacturing, this plastic is impressed with microscopic bumps arranged (also called pits) as a single, continuous, extremely long spiral track of data.

CD ROMS (Stamped CD)

Once the clear piece of polycarbonate is formed, a thin, reflective aluminium layer is sputtered onto the disc, covering the bumps. Then a thin acrylic layer is sprayed over the aluminium to protect it.
Label Acrylic Aluminum 125 nm 1.2 mm

CD RECORDABLE DISCS

response to this demand, electronics manufacturers introduced an alternative sort of CD that could be encoded in a few easy steps. CD-recordable discs, or CD-Rs, don't have any bumps or flat areas at all. Instead, they have a smooth reflective metal layer, which rests on top of a layer of photosensitive dye. When the disc is blank, the dye is translucent: Light can shine through and reflect off the metal surface. But when you heat the dye layer with concentrated light of a particular frequency and intensity, the dye turns opaque: It darkens to the point that light can't pass through.

CD RECORDABLE DISCS

REWRITABLE CDS

These discs are based on phase-change technology. In CD-RW discs, the phase-change element is a chemical compound of silver, antimony, tellurium and indium. As with any physical material, you can change this compound's form by heating it to certain temperatures. When the compound is heated above its melting temperature (around 600 degrees Celsius and let it cool rapidly, it will remain in a fluid, amorphous state, even though it is below the crystallization temperature. In order to crystallize the compound, you have to keep it at the crystallization temperature (around 200 degrees Celsius), for a certain length of time so that it turns into a solid before it cools down

REWRITABLE CDS

In the compound used in CD-RW discs, the crystalline form is translucent while the amorphous fluid form will absorb most light. On a new, blank CD, all of the material in the writable area is in the crystalline form, so light will shine through this layer to the reflective metal above and bounce back to the light sensor. To encode information on the disc, the CD burner uses its write laser, which is powerful enough to heat the compound to its melting temperature. These "melted" spots serve the same purpose as the bumps on a conventional CD and the opaque spots on a CD-R: They block the "read" laser so it won't reflect off the metal layer. Each non-reflective area indicates a 0 in the digital code. Every spot that remains crystalline is still reflective, indicating a 1. again.

REWRITABLE CDS

READING THE DISC

READING THE DISC

The fundamental job of the CD reader is to focus the laser on the track of bumps. The laser beam passes through the polycarbonate layer, reflects off the aluminum layer and hits an opto-electronic device that detects changes in light. The bumps reflect light differently than the "lands" (the rest of the aluminum layer), and the opto-electronic sensor detects that change in reflectivity. The electronics in the drive interpret the changes in reflectivity in order to read the bits that make up the bytes.

READING THE DISC

TRACKING SYSTEM

The hardest part is keeping the laser beam centred on the data track. This centring is the job of the tracking system. The tracking system, as it plays the CD, has to continually move the laser outward. As the laser moves outward from the centre of the disc, the bumps move past the laser faster. This happens because the linear, or tangential, speed of the bumps is equal to the radius times the speed at which the disc is revolving (rpm). Therefore, as the laser moves outward, the spindle motor must slow the speed of the CD. That way, the bumps travel past the laser at a constant speed, and the data comes off the disc at a constant rate.

TRACKING SYSTEM

HOLOGRAPHY

Term holography is derived from a Greek word. In Greek holes means whole and graphy means recording It is the method of recording three dimensional image of an object using Laser It was invented by Dennis Gabor in 1948

HOLOGRAPHY

Term holography is derived from a Greek word. In Greek holes means whole and graphy means recording It is the method of recording three dimensional image of an object using Laser It was invented by Dennis Gabor in 1948

CONSTRUCTION OF HOLOGRAMS Laser

Laser beam Reference beam Mirror, m2

Beam splitter
Object beam

Object Beam expender

Beam expender Mirror, m1

Holographic plate

RECONSTRUCTION OF HOLOGRAMS Laser

Laser beam Object beam Mirror, m2

Beam splitter

Object Beam expender

Holographic plate