Classical derivation of the laser rate equation
Abstract
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?
- Publication:
-
IEEE Journal of Quantum Electronics
- Pub Date:
- August 1983
- DOI:
- 10.1109/JQE.1983.1072025
- Bibcode:
- 1983IJQE...19.1228M
- Keywords:
-
- Decay Rates;
- Field Mode Theory;
- Laser Cavities;
- Maxwell Equation;
- Radiant Flux Density;
- Spontaneous Emission;
- Cavity Resonators;
- Fluorescence;
- Laser Modes;
- Optical Resonators;
- Spectral Line Width;
- Lasers and Masers