Einstein Relation and Light Amplification

Under thermal equilibrium, the average population N1 and N2 in the lower and upper
energy levels respectively must remain constant. This condition requires that number
of transitions from E2→E1 must be equal to the number of transitions from E1→E2.
Thus
Number of atoms absorbing  Number of atoms emitting photons
 = 
photons per second per unit volume  per second per unit volume
In equilibrium condition,
B12 U()N1 =A12 N2 + B21 U()N2 (14)
U() (B12 N1 - B21 N2) = A21 N2
A 21 N 2
U(  ) =
(B12 N 1 − B 21N 2 )
Dividing both the numerator and denominator on R.H.S with B12 N2
A 21
U( ) = (15)
N1 /N 2 – B21
As, from classical distribution (Boltzmann’s Law)
N 1 / N 2 = e(E2 – E1 )/k B T = e h  /k B T
A 21
U( ) = (16)
B12 e h /k B T − B 21
To maintain thermal equilibrium, the system must release energy in the form of
electromagnetic radiations. It is required that the radiation be identical with black
body radiation and be consistent with Planck's law for any value of T.
According to Planck's law, the radiation energy density U() per unit frequency
interval is given as-
8h 33 1
U() = h /k B T
(17)
c 3
e −1
 is refractive index of medium, c is velocity of light in free space.
Energy density U() given in Equation (16) will be consistent with Planck's law only
if
B21 =B12 (18)
A 21 8h 3 3
And = (19)
B12 c3
3
c
Therefore, B 12 = B 21 = 3 3
A 21 (20)
8h 
Equations (18) and (19) are known as relations between Einstein coefficients and
Equation (20) gives the relationship between A and B coefficients.
Also the coefficients for both absorption and stimulated emission are numerically
equal. When an atom with two energy levels is placed in the radiation field, the
probability for an upward transition is equal to the probability for a downward
transition to maintain the equilibrium.
The coefficient of stimulated emission is proportional to the third power of frequency
of radiation. This is why it is difficult to achieve laser action in higher frequency
ranges.
Population Inversion
At thermal equilibrium, lower energy states are more populated than the higher
energy states (i.e. N1>N2). For laser action to take place it is mandatory that stimulated
emission dominate over spontaneous emission, this requires that the upper energy
level should be more populated than lower energy states i.e. N2> N1. This non–
equilibrium state in which the population N2 of the upper energy state exceeds the
population N1 of the lower energy state is known as the state of population inversion.
According to Boltzmann distribution
h
N 2 − k BT
=e
N1
h
T =−
k B log ( N 2 / N1 )
if N2> N1 , then in this condition temperature will be negative. That is why the state of
population inversion is sometimes referred to as a negative temperature state.

Fig.7 Schematic representation of population inversion of three level system

To explain the state of population inversion let us consider an atomic system which
has three energy states E1, E2, E3 and at thermal equilibrium population of these states
are N1, N2, N3 respectively such that N1>N2>N3. now if energy is supplied to the
system and a condition is achieved such that N2>N1, then it is a condition of
population inversion between the states E1 and E2.

Pumping
Basic Principle
In order to get the state of population inversion, it is necessary that atoms must be
continuously promoted from the lower energy level to the excited energy level. The
pumping is a process by which atoms are raised from the lower energy level to the
upper energy level.
Pumping Methods
To get the state of population inversion, different methods are employed. The most
common methods of pumping are as follows-
a Optical Pumping
 Optical pumping uses photons (i.e. a light source) to excite the atoms. A light
source such as a flash discharge lamp is used to illuminate the laser medium
and the photons of appropriate energy to excite the atoms to an uppermost
level. From there, they drop to the metastable upper laser level to create the
state of population inversion.
Here it should be noted that the energy of the pumping photon must be higher
than the emitted photon, and the pumping band of the atom should not be
narrow, otherwise only very few frequencies from the pumping source will be
absorbed. These two factors reduce the efficiency of the laser. Optical pumping
is suitable for laser mediums which are transparent to pump light. It is used for
solid state and liquid tunable dye lasers.

b Electrical Pumping
It is used only in those materials that can conduct electricity without destroying
lasing activity. That is why it is limited to gases. A high voltage pulse initially
ionizes the gas/gases so that it conducts electricity. An electric current flowing
through the gases excites atoms to the excited level.

c Direct Conversion
Electrical pumping is also required in semiconductor lasers. But in case of
semiconductors the atoms are not excited. Here the current carriers namely
electrons and holes are excited and hence a population inversion is achieved in
the junction region. The electrons recombine with holes in the junction regions
producing laser light. Thus, in semiconductor lasers, a direct conversion of
electrical energy into light energy takes place. The recombination of electrons
and holes in the junction region results in the laser light.
d Inelastic atomic collision
In this method, the first electric discharge provides initial excitation. So some
of the atoms attain excited states. Further these excited atoms make inelastic
collision with other type of atoms. Thus, the first type of excited atoms help,
second type of atoms to get the excited state easily, to produce the condition of
population inversion. This process is used in helium- Neon gas laser.
Optical Resonant cavity
Optical resonant cavity is an essential part of lasers. Basically it is an arrangement of
a pair of mirrors facing each other, and the active medium is kept between the mirrors.
[In lasers the pair of mirrors constitutes an optical resonator]. Suppose a
spontaneously emitted photon is along the optic axis of optical cavity [laser rod or
tube]. This photon triggers many excited atoms for stimulated emission and for the
emission and photos are reflected back and forth into the medium by the mirrors.
Multiple reflections increase the strength of the light beam.
Working of optical Resonator
Through suitable pumping mechanism, (active medium), atoms, are excited in an
optical resonator and there is possibility of spontaneous emission in various
directions. The spontaneously emitted photons can trigger the other excited atoms.
These spontaneously emitted photons and stimulated photons will move in various
directions. Photons, which are not along the optic axis of the optic resonator, will pass
out the sides of the optical resonator and are lost. On the other hand, if photons are
along the optic axis of the optical resonator, they will move back and forth into the
optical resonator, in presence of end mirror. Thus, a specific direction is imposed on
the photons. During their motion along the optic axis, they stimulate other atoms and
improve their strength. The back and forth motion of photons increase stimulated
emission sharply, hence amplification of light is augmented. When the losses of
energy from the resonator and within the medium balance the gain, the laser
oscillations build up and a highly collimated, intense bright beam is obtained.

Metastable States
The normal life time of a excited state is 10-8 sec, but for establishing population
inversion, excited atoms should have life time higher than the normal state, to increase
the population of excited state. Such excited states which have longer life time are
known as metastable state. In absence of these states there will be no population
inversion, no stimulated emission, thus no laser transition. Thus presence of
metastable state is the fundamental requirement for a matter to act as active medium
for laser transition.