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Simply Quantum Physics 89 91

Lasers are devices that emit coherent light through optical amplification and have various applications, including remote sensing and laser cutting. The ruby laser operates by pumping energy into a medium, resulting in the emission of coherent red light. Atomic clocks utilize the frequency of microwave radiation to measure time with extreme precision, relying on the properties of cesium-133 atoms.

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47 views3 pages

Simply Quantum Physics 89 91

Lasers are devices that emit coherent light through optical amplification and have various applications, including remote sensing and laser cutting. The ruby laser operates by pumping energy into a medium, resulting in the emission of coherent red light. Atomic clocks utilize the frequency of microwave radiation to measure time with extreme precision, relying on the properties of cesium-133 atoms.

Uploaded by

Kaviraj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

HIGHLY

CONCENTRATED
A laser is a device that emits light through the process of
optical amplification, based on stimulated emission (see
opposite). Unlike light from other sources, laser light is
coherent, meaning that the waves are perfectly in step
with each other and have the same frequency. The
invention of lasers has allowed unprecedented control
over light, with applications such as remote-sensing lidar,
laser cutting, and spectroscopy. Lasers can also be used
to trap and cool small particles, such as atoms and ions.

The ruby medium is


RUBY LASER pumped using
a flashtube. Energy
emitted from the The laser emits rapid pulses of
flashtube is absorbed by visible red light. Due to the
electrons in the medium, photons being produced via
which then jump to stimulated emission, this light

LASERS
ALL WAVES IN STEP

HIGH-INTENSITY
FLASH LAMP
excited states. is perfectly coherent.

87
E

M
TI Atomic clocks, which
are used in technologies
G
such as satellite navigation,
IN

keep precise time using the


EP

properties of certain atoms such as


those of cesium-133. When atoms are
KE

exposed to photons, some electrons jump


between energy levels. When the incident photons
have precisely the same frequency as a cesium-133
atom, electrons in the atoms resonate and leap between
energy levels. One second is defined as 9,192,631,770
oscillations at that frequency.

Measuring time The oscillator fires


QUANTUM
LEAP

The most precise way of microwaves set to a specific


frequency at the atoms,
measuring time is based
causing them to jump to a
on using the frequency of higher energy state.
microwave radiation that
excites electrons to jump
between energy states
in certain atoms.

Cesium atoms are


CESIUM–133
ATOMS FIRED

ionized and fired through a


magnetic gate that filters
out any with a high-energy
state. The low-energy-state
atoms then continue on to
the radio wave oscillator. MAGNET

MAGNET

HIGH-ENERGY-STATE
ATOMS REMOVED

88 ATOMIC CLOCKS
The most accurate
atomic clocks will
not lose or gain more
than 1 second in
15 billion years.

The definition of a second has A second magnet filters out


FREQUNECY
AND TIME

FEEDBACK TO
OSCILLATOR

been based on this frequency low-energy cesium atoms before


since 1968. a detector counts the number of
atoms. If the detector counts
enough high-energy-state atoms,
then the oscillator is at the right
frequency. If the number of
9,192,631,770 high-energy atoms is too low, then
the oscillator needs adjusting
OSCILLATIONS to the correct frequency.
SENT AT 9,192,631,770 HZ
RADIO WAVE SIGNAL

OSCILLATOR

MAGNET

DETECTOR

MAGNET

LOW-ENERGY-STATE
ATOMS REMOVED

ATOMIC CLOCKS 89

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