Ruby Laser and Types of Lasers

Types of Lasers

• Lasers can have different mediums:
  • Solid
  • Gas
  • Liquid
  • Semiconductor
• Categorized by the type of lasing material:
  • Solid-state lasers
  • Gas lasers
  • Excimer lasers
  • Dye lasers
  • Semiconductor lasers

Ruby Laser

• Lasing Material: Solid (Ruby)
• Components:
  • Flash Tube: Energizes the medium
  • Ruby Rod: Acts as the lasing medium
  • Two Mirrors: One fully reflective and one partially silvered

Functioning of Ruby Laser

1. Energizing the Medium:
   • The flash tube fires and injects light into the ruby rod.
   • This light excites the atoms within the ruby.
2. Photon Emission:
   • Excited atoms emit photons.
   • Majority of these photons travel parallel to the ruby rod's axis.
   • Photons bounce between the mirrors.
3. Stimulated Emission:
   • As photons pass through, they stimulate emission from other atoms.
4. Laser Output:
   • Photons exit through the partially silvered mirror.
   • Results in a monochromatic, single-phase, collimated laser.