Classical derivation of the laser rate equation

Journal Article · Mon Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1983 · IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1109/JQE.1983.1072025· OSTI ID:5249898

Marcuse, D

In this paper, the rate equation for the energy (photon) density inside the resonant cavity of a laser oscillator is derived from Maxwell's equations. By comparison to the familiar photon rate equation, this classical derivation can be used to obtain the well-known expression for the ratio of the power that is spontaneously emitted into a single laser mode relative to the total amount of spontaneous emission. This independent derivation does not require mode counting procedures and settles the following question: what fraction of the total power that is spontaneously emitted into the wavelength range of the fluorescent linewidth is utilized for increasing the energy in a given laser mode.

• Research Organization: Bell Lab., Crawford Hill Lab., Holmdel, NJ 07733
• OSTI ID: 5249898
• Journal Information: IEEE J. Quant. Electron.; (United States), Vol. QE-19:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
LASER CAVITIES
ENERGY DENSITY
LASERS
CAVITY RESONATORS
FLUORESCENCE
LINE WIDTHS
MAXWELL EQUATIONS
OSCILLATORS
PHOTONS
WAVELENGTHS
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTARY PARTICLES
EQUATIONS
EQUIPMENT
LUMINESCENCE
MASSLESS PARTICLES
PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS
RESONATORS
420300* - Engineering- Lasers- (-1989)