Other Free Encyclopedias :: Science Encyclopedia :: Science Encyclopedia Vol 4 :: Laser - Background And History, How It Works, Stimulated Emission, Oscillation, Solid State Lasers, Gas Lasers - Applications

Laser - How It Works

How it works

The laser consists of the following components: the pump, which is the source of energy to drive the laser; the active medium, which is where the stored energy is converted into the laser light through the process of stimulated emission; the optical cavity, which is usually made up of a pair of mirrors, one whose reflectivity at the wavelength of the laser is as close to 100% as possible and the other with a reflectivity less than 100%, through which the output beam propagates.


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