EXCELSSIOR EDUCATION SOCIETY’S

K.C. College of Engineering and Management Studies &

Research (Affiliated to University of Mumbai)
Mith Bunder Road, Near Hume Pipe, Kopri, Thane (E)- 400603

Department of Humanities and Applied Sciences

F.E. (2024-25) SEM I

Applied Physics (Module I, II, V)

Important Questions

1. With neat energy level diagram, describe the construction and working of He-
Ne laser, what are its merits and demerits.

Ans) He-Ne Laser: Construction and Working

Construction:

 A glass tube filled with a mixture of helium and neon gases.

 Anode and cathode to create an electric discharge.
 Two mirrors at the ends form the laser cavity—one fully reflective, the other partially
reflective.

Working:

1. Excitation of Helium: A high-voltage discharge excites helium atoms to a metastable

state.
2. Energy Transfer: Excited helium atoms transfer energy to neon atoms, exciting neon to
higher energy levels.
3. Population Inversion: Neon atoms in excited states cause a population inversion
between energy levels N₃ and N₂.
4. Stimulated Emission: Neon atoms drop from N₃ to N₂, emitting red light at 632.8 nm.
5. Laser Cavity: The mirrors amplify the light, and a portion of the light exits through the
partially reflective mirror as laser output.

Merits of He-Ne Laser:

1. High Stability and Coherence: Provides stable, coherent light, ideal for precise
applications like holography and interferometry.
2. Monochromatic Light: Emits nearly pure single-wavelength light, typically at 632.8 nm
(red).
3. Low Cost and Easy to Maintain: Relatively inexpensive and simple in design, requiring
minimal maintenance.
4. Low Beam Divergence: The beam remains focused over long distances due to low
divergence.
5. Long Lifespan: Reliable with a long operational life.
Demerits of He-Ne Laser:

1. Low Power Output: Limited to a few milliwatts, restricting its use in high-power
applications.
2. Large Size: The gas tube makes it bulkier compared to more compact lasers.
3. Limited Wavelengths: Mainly emits red light; other wavelengths are harder to achieve.
4. Fragile: The glass tube and electrical components are more delicate than solid-state
lasers.

2. Explain the terms used to define laser:

1. Spontaneous Absorption
Definition: This is the process where an electron in a lower energy state absorbs a photon
and moves to a higher energy state.
Significance: It is a fundamental process that initiates the interaction between light and
matter but does not contribute to laser action.
2. Spontaneous Emission
Definition: This occurs when an electron in an excited state returns to a lower energy
state without external stimulation, emitting a photon in the process.
Significance: This process generates light but is random in nature and does not lead to
the coherent light characteristic of lasers.
3. Stimulated Emission
Definition: This is the process where an incoming photon stimulates an excited electron to
drop to a lower energy state, resulting in the emission of a second photon that is coherent
(same phase and frequency) with the first.
Significance: This is the fundamental principle behind how lasers amplify light.
4. Meta Stable State
Definition: This is a higher energy state in which an excited electron remains for a longer
duration compared to typical excited states, allowing more time for stimulated emission to
occur.
Significance: The existence of this state is crucial for achieving population inversion
necessary for laser operation.
5. Population Inversion
Definition: This refers to a condition in which more electrons are in an excited state than in
lower energy states, contrary to thermal equilibrium.
 Significance: It is essential for laser action, as it enables stimulated emission to dominate
over absorption.
6. Pumping and Pumping Schemes
Definition: Pumping is the process of supplying energy to a laser medium to excite
electrons from a lower energy state to a higher energy state. Pumping schemes refer to
the methods used to achieve this, such as optical pumping (using light) or electrical
pumping (using electric current).
Significance: Effective pumping is critical to maintain population inversion and
sustain laser action.
3. Define the following:
4. Derive an expression for acceptance angle, find the expression for numerical aperture.
 5. What is difference between step index Fibre and graded-index Fibre.

5. Explain different Applications of Optical fibre.

Optical fibers have a wide range of applications due to their ability to transmit light over long
distances with minimal loss. Here are some key applications:

1) Telecommunications:

 High-speed data transmission: Optical fibers are the backbone of modern

communication systems, transmitting voice, data, and video over long distances at very
high speeds.
 Internet and cable TV: Optical fibers are used in internet infrastructure (fiber-to-the-
home) and in delivering high-definition TV services.

2) Medical Applications:

 Endoscopy: Optical fibers are used in medical instruments called endoscopes to provide
non-invasive internal imaging of the body, enabling doctors to view internal organs without
surgery.
 Laser surgeries: Optical fibers transmit laser light for precise surgeries, such as in eye
correction (LASIK) or tissue removal.
3) Industrial Applications:

 Sensing and monitoring: Optical fibers are used in sensors to measure strain,
temperature, pressure, and vibrations in industries such as construction, oil, and gas.
 Inspection and imaging: Fiberscopes allow inspection of hard-to-reach areas in
machinery or pipelines.

4) Military and Aerospace:

 Secure communication: Optical fibers are resistant to electromagnetic interference,

making them ideal for secure and reliable communication in military systems.
 Gyroscopes and sensors: Fiber optic gyroscopes are used in navigation systems for
aircraft and missiles.

5) Data Centers:

 High-speed data transfer: Optical fibers are critical in data centers for fast, efficient data
transmission between servers, routers, and storage systems.

6) Lighting and Decoration:

 Illuminating displays: Optical fibers are used in architectural lighting, decorative lighting,
and in applications like fiber optic Christmas trees.
 Sensors in art installations: They are also used in special effects and displays in
museums or exhibitions.

7) Power Transmission:

 Optical power transmission: In some cases, optical fibers can transmit light to remote
locations for power delivery, although this is less common than electrical transmission.

8) Sensing in Civil Engineering:

 Structural health monitoring: Optical fibers are embedded in bridges, dams, and
buildings to monitor structural integrity, detecting early signs of damage or wear.

6. What is resonant cavity in the operation of a laser.

A resonant cavity (or optical cavity) is essential in a laser's operation, consisting of two mirrors
placed at each end of the gain medium. Here’s a concise overview of its key roles:

Key Roles of the Resonant Cavity:

1. Light Amplification:
o The cavity reflects light back and forth through the gain medium, allowing multiple
passes that enhance stimulated emission and amplify the light.
2. Feedback Mechanism:
o One mirror reflects all light, while the other is partially reflective, feeding some light
back into the medium to promote further emission and maintain amplification.
 3. Wavelength Selection:
o The cavity supports specific wavelengths based on its dimensions, ensuring the
laser emits coherent, monochromatic light.
4. Phase Coherence:
o Continuous reflections maintain the phase coherence of the emitted light, resulting
in a highly focused and directional laser beam.

In summary, the resonant cavity is crucial for amplifying light, ensuring coherence, and defining
the characteristics of the laser output.

7. What is difference between laser light and ordinary light.

Here’s a more concise comparison of laser light and ordinary light:

1. Coherence:
o Laser Light: Highly coherent, with waves in phase, allowing for long-distance
travel with minimal spread.
o Ordinary Light: Incoherent, with waves out of phase, resulting in quick
dispersion.
2. Monochromaticity:
o Laser Light: Usually monochromatic, consisting of a single wavelength.
o Ordinary Light: Contains multiple wavelengths (colors), like white light.
3. Directionality:
o Laser Light: Highly directional, forming a narrow beam.
o Ordinary Light: Omnidirectional, spreading out in all directions.
4. Brightness:
o Laser Light: More intense and focused.
o Ordinary Light: Brightness varies and often appears less intense due to spreading.
5. Production:
o Laser Light: Produced by stimulated emission.
o Ordinary Light: Produced by spontaneous emission from sources like bulbs.
What are the monomode and Multimode fibres. Explain V number

10.What is matter wave Explain it. What is de-Brogli hypothesis of dual nature of

light.

Matter Wave

A matter wave refers to the wave-like behavior of particles, as described by quantum mechanics.
According to this concept, every particle, such as electrons and atoms, exhibits both particle-like
and wave-like properties. Matter waves are associated with the probability amplitude of finding a
particle in a particular location, and they can interfere and diffract like traditional waves.

de Broglie Hypothesis

The de Broglie hypothesis postulates that all matter has a wave nature, just like light. Louis de
Broglie proposed that particles can be described not only as particles but also as waves, with a
wavelength (λ\lambdaλ) related to their momentum (ppp) by the equation:

where h is Planck's constant. This dual nature of matter means that particles such as electrons
exhibit behaviors characteristic of both particles and waves, influencing the development of
quantum mechanics and our understanding of atomic and subatomic phenomena.
 11. Obtain the expression for De- Broglie wavelength in terms of energy.

12. Numerical based on laser, Fibre Optics and Quantum mechanics.

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