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Laser HTML5

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Summary

An energy level diagram show how atoms can be excited (moved to a higher level energy) or not excited (ground state level energy) . Absorbing or emitting a photon is a common way for an atom to gain or release energy. This emission can be "spontaneous" or "stimulated".

To make a Laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) you have to "pump" energy up from an external source in order to excite a large number of the atoms in the active media, and so promote stimulated emission. You also need a resonant optical cavity in order to force the photons to increase the rate of stimulated emissions. A slightly transparent mirror lets a part of this monochromatic light escape.

Click on "Energy pump" to activate the external source.

Learning goals

  • To distinguish spontaneous emission from stimulated emission.
  • To illustrate some important features of the L.A.S.E.R.
  • To show how matter can interact with light.

Learn more

Atoms and molecules can be excited (high level energy) or not excited (ground state level energy). To go from one level to another, one atom can absorb energy (provided by light quanta for…

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