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Problem 1: More Complete Model of Ruby Laser: EE 231, Lasers Spring 2007 Problem Set 4 Due 5PM 9 May

This document contains instructions for Problem Set 4 in the course EE 231 Lasers during Spring 2007 at an unspecified university. It includes 4 practice problems related to laser physics and modeling laser systems with different energy level structures and pumping schemes. Problem 1 involves modeling a realistic ruby laser system with degenerate energy levels. Problem 2 considers an unconventional 3-level system pumped into the 3rd level. Problem 3 examines cascade pumping of a 4-level system. Problem 4 analyzes a self-terminating laser with the upper level having a shorter lifetime than the lower.

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Husam Abduldaem Mohammed
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76 views2 pages

Problem 1: More Complete Model of Ruby Laser: EE 231, Lasers Spring 2007 Problem Set 4 Due 5PM 9 May

This document contains instructions for Problem Set 4 in the course EE 231 Lasers during Spring 2007 at an unspecified university. It includes 4 practice problems related to laser physics and modeling laser systems with different energy level structures and pumping schemes. Problem 1 involves modeling a realistic ruby laser system with degenerate energy levels. Problem 2 considers an unconventional 3-level system pumped into the 3rd level. Problem 3 examines cascade pumping of a 4-level system. Problem 4 analyzes a self-terminating laser with the upper level having a shorter lifetime than the lower.

Uploaded by

Husam Abduldaem Mohammed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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EE 231, Lasers Spring 2007

Problem Set 4 Due 5PM 9 May

Problem 1: More Complete Model of Ruby Laser


In class, we derived the populations of an ideal three-level laser. We assumed that none of the levels
were degenerate and that the energy spacing between all levels was large compared to kBT (the optical
approximation). In a real ruby laser, neither of these assumptions are true – the ground state has a 4-fold
degeneracy, and the upper laser level is split into two closely spaced energy levels R1 and R2 (separated by
∆E ≈ kBT), each of which is doubly degenerate. The energy level diagram for this system is shown below.

The relaxation between the R1 and R2 levels is extremely rapid, so we can assume that the ratio
between the populations NR1 and NR2 of these levels remains fixed in the appropriate Boltzmann ratio. The
relevant relaxation rates are γ3R, the relaxation rate from the E3 level to any of the R1 or R2 states; and γR1,
the rate of relaxation from any of the R1 or R2 states to any of the E1 states. You may assume that all
degenerate sublevels are equally populated. As in a typical 3-level system, the pump raises electrons from
the E1 level to the E3 level.
Taking the degeneracy and thermal equilibrium between the R1 and R2 levels into account, but
otherwise making the same idealizations as done in class for the ideal three-level system, find the effective
population difference from the R1 level to the ground level as a function of pumping power. (20 points)

Problem 2: A Different Sort of 3-level System


We considered in class a three-level system which was pumped into level 3 and obtained an inversion
between levels 2 and 1. It is possible in principle to pump into level 3 and obtain an inversion between
levels 3 and 2. Assume instead that level 3 has a long lifetime (slow decay rate) and level 2 has a short
lifetime for decay back to the ground state. For the calculations, assume that the optical approximation
applies.
(a) Find the population inversion as a function of the total density of atoms N0, the pump rate Wp and
the relaxation rates γ32, γ31, and γ21. (15 points)
(b) Would this system need more or less pump rate to obtain population inversion than the
conventional three-level system considered in class? (5 points)

While this system has interesting properties compared to the usual three-level system, examples are not
commonly found in nature.

Problem 3: Cascade Pumping


In some multilevel laser systems, more than one pump wavelength is applied to invert a transition for
which there is no convenient pump (typically to pump a short wavelength transition with longer wavelength
sources). This has been used, for example, in some visible-wavelength rare-earth doped fiber lasers pumped
with near-IR semiconductor lasers.
EE 231, Lasers Spring 2007
Problem Set 4 Due 5PM 9 May

Suppose a four-level system is “cascade pumped” with two separate pumping transition probabilities
W13 ≡ WA and W34 ≡ WB. The optical approximation applies for all transitions, and the relaxation rates γji can
take arbitrary values.
(a) Solve for the population difference ∆N42 ≡ N4 – N2 as a function of the two pumping powers WA
and WB, using the γj and γji notation for the downward relaxation rates. (20 points)
(b) Discuss what conditions are needed for an inversion on the 4 → 2 transition, and how this
inversion depends on the two pumping powers. (10 points)

Problem 4: Self-terminating Laser


Self-terminating lasers are lasers in which the upper laser level has a shorter lifetime than the lower
laser level, which is the reverse from a conventional laser. If such an atomic system is pumped hard
enough, an inversion can still be created between the upper and lower levels. However, electrons cascade
back down to the lower laser level during the initial emission of a laser beam. Because they statistically
stay a long time in the lower laser level and hence cumulate there, there is eventually no longer an
inversion. The speed at which inversion is lost is enhanced by stimulated emission between these two
levels, which depopulates the shorter lived upper level while further populating the longer lived lower
level. So a short time after lasing starts, the lower laser level population exceeds the upper laser level
population, and lasing stops. Such transitions are clearly of no interest for CW lasers, but they can
sometimes be useful for pulsed operation. While treatment of time-dependent phenomena is mostly
reserved for EE232, it is interesting to take a quick look at such a problem here. The analysis can be based
on the time-dependent solutions of the rate equations developed in class.

Consider a three-level atom, with pumping at rate Rp into level 3 from level 1. The latter can be
assumed to remain undepleted. Take the only two relevant spontaneous decay paths to be from level 3 to 2,
and level 2 to 1, with rates γ32 and γ21, respectively. Lasing takes place between level 3 and level 2. The
optical approximation can be taken as valid. Neglect stimulated emission.

(a) What are the rate equations describing this system? (5 points)
(b) Assuming that at t = 0 there is no population in levels 3 and 2, what are the populations N3(t) and
N2(t)? (15 points)
(c) What is the inversion ∆N(t) ≡ N3(t) – N2(t)? Assuming that γ32 = 2γ21, over what time interval will
an inversion exist? (5 points)
(d) What are the steady-state populations for t →∞? (5 points)

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