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Lecture 8: Laser amplifiers

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Rate equations in the absence of amplifier radiation<br />

To increase population difference N 0<br />

• Increase pumping and de-pumping rate (R 2 and R 1 )<br />

• Long 2 , but sp must be sufficiently short so as to make<br />

the radiative transition rate large<br />

• Short 1 (if R 1 < ( 2 / 21 )R 2 )<br />

<br />

The physical picture:<br />

• the upper level should be pumped strongly and decay<br />

slowly so that it retains its population.<br />

• The lower level should be de-pumped strongly so that it<br />

quickly disposes of its population.<br />

<br />

Ideally, 21 ≈ sp

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