Lasers in Chemistry

10/21/99


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Table of Contents

Lasers in Chemistry

Requirements for a laser

Gain can only be achieved with population inversion

A two level system cannot give rise to a population inversion

Analysis of a two level system using differential equations

A two level system can give rise to equal population of ground and excited states

A three level system: the minimum requirement for a laser

A three level system provides a route to a population inversion

Analysis of a three level system

Simple solution of a three level system uses steady state approximation

The addition of a third state allows for creation of a population inversion

Four level system produces superior results for laser design

d-d transitions can give a useful four level system for tunable lasers

Comparison of three and four state systems

Cr(III) ligand field is nearly Oh so help is required from other metals

Cavity modes

Longitudinal modes

Longitudinal modes

Transverse modes

TEM00 is a transverse mode with no nodes

TEM10 and TEM 01 are transverse modes with one node

TEM11 is a transverse mode with two nodes

Scientific Lasers

Creation of a population inversion by electrical discharge

HeNe Laser

HeNe laser cavity

Ar and Kr ion lasers

Ar and Kr ion lasers

Ar and Kr ion lasers

Nd:YAG lasers

Nd:YAG lasers

Nd:YAG lasers

Nd:YAG lasers

Nd:YAG lasers

Nd:YAG lasers

CO2 lasers

CO2 lasers are infrared lasers

The gain curve of CO2 spans the rotational state energies of the molecule

Excimer lasers

Dye lasers

Laser safety

Author: Stefan Franzen