What does “stimulated emission of radiation” mean?
Radioactive particles in a laser emit gamma rays of the same wavelength.
Gas particles in a laser emit coherent light when bombarded with X-rays.
Gas particles in a laser emit photons of light when exposed to an electric current.
Electromagnetic currents are produced by neon particles when they bump into helium particles.
Gas particles in a laser emit photons of light when exposed to an electric current. This process is known as stimulated emission of radiation, as the electric current stimulates the emission of photons, which are then amplified and emitted in a coherent beam of light.
The correct answer is:
Gas particles in a laser emit photons of light when exposed to an electric current.
"Stimulated emission of radiation" refers to a process in which gas particles in a laser are stimulated by an electric current to emit photons of light. This is a fundamental principle behind the operation of lasers. When the gas particles absorb energy from the electric current, their electrons get excited to higher energy levels. As these electrons return to their lower energy levels, they release the excess energy in the form of photons of light. The emitted photons are of the same wavelength and are coherent, meaning they have the same frequency and are in phase with each other.
The correct answer is:
Gas particles in a laser emit photons of light when exposed to an electric current.
Explanation:
"Stimulated emission of radiation" is the physical process that occurs in a laser. It involves gas particles in a laser medium being stimulated by an electric current or another energy source to emit photons of light. These photons are emitted in a coordinated and coherent manner, which means they have the same frequency, phase, and direction.
In a laser, there is a laser medium that consists of gas particles (like atoms or molecules) trapped in a particular configuration. When an electric current or other energy source is applied to the laser medium, it energizes the gas particles and causes some of them to transition from higher energy levels to lower energy levels. As they transition, these gas particles emit photons of light with specific wavelengths.
The emitted photons have the same wavelength because the gas particles are of the same type and are confined in the same medium. This coherent light further stimulates nearby gas particles to undergo the same transition and emit more photons with the same wavelength. This process creates a cascading effect, resulting in a highly concentrated and intense beam of laser light.
The other options you mentioned, such as radioactive particles emitting gamma rays, gas particles emitting coherent light when bombarded with X-rays, or neon and helium particles interacting to produce electromagnetic currents, are not directly related to the concept of stimulated emission of radiation in lasers.