Lasers and the Space Elevator激光器与太空电梯.pptVIP

Lasers and the Space Elevator Adaleena Mookerjee August 16, 2006 Center for Structures in Extreme Environments, Rutgers University What are Lasers? Laser History Conceptually developed by Albert Einstein in 1917 Actually built by Theodore Maiman in the 1960s (Ruby laser) Previously, was not important at all Today, it is all around us from printers to barcode readers at the bookstore or mall Basic Phenomena of Light Wave duality of matter: light is capable of behaving like a wave and particle Light – The Wave Any electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength visible to the eye 3 properties of light: Intensity (amplitude) – how bright something appears to the human eye Frequency (wavelength) – color of light produced Polarization – angle of vibration of light Light the Photon Photons – quanta of electromagnetic radiation which can be light Bohr Model: Made up of 3 subatomic particles Protons (positively charged subatomic particle) Neutrons (neutrally charged subatomic particle) Electrons (negatively charged subatomic particle) Protons and neutrons are located in nucleus Electrons are located in a hypothetical region surrounding the nucleus Producing Light Step 1: Light is emitted and photons are released, colliding with the orbiting electron Step 2: Collision causes change in velocity and position, making the electron absorb photon’s energy Step 3: Electron moves to a higher energy level or position around nucleus (excited!) Step 4: To return, electron releases energy from photon, producing light Wave and Photon Correlation Speed of light (c) = 300,000 km/s Relationship between photon and wave: Where λ = wavelength and f = frequency Terminology – Photons Population inversion: when a system of either a group of molecules or molecules exist in a state where more electrons are in an excited state than in the lowest energy level possible Absorption: photon with a particular frequency hits an atom at rest excites it to a higher energy level while photon is absorbed