Stimulated Emission

Light that clones itself

An interactive lesson with 7 steps, about 6 minutes: you predict, drag and solve, with instant feedback on every answer. It runs in your browser and needs JavaScript.

What you’ll learn

• Stimulated emission produces an identical copy of a photon.
• Amplification needs a population inversion, created by pumping.
• Mirrors provide feedback, building up a strong, straight beam.

Steps

1. Einstein’s third process
2. The catch
3. Gain or loss?
4. Three levels or four?
5. A perfect copy
6. Why the mirrors?
7. An avalanche between mirrors