The fruits of scientific and technological progress do not always find their concrete practical expression immediately after the preparation of the theoretical basis. This happened with laser technology, the capabilities of which are not fully disclosed until now. The theory of optical quantum generators, on the basis of which the concept of devices emitting electromagnetic radiation was created, was partially mastered thanks to the optimization of laser technology. However, experts note that the potential of optical radiation may become the basis for a number of discoveries in the future.
The principle of operation of the device
In this case, a quantum generator is understood as a laser apparatus operating in the optical range under conditions of stimulated monochromatic, electromagnetic, or coherent radiation. The very origin of the word laser in translation indicates the effect of amplification of light by stimulated emission. To date, there are several concepts for the implementation of a laser device, due to the ambiguity of the principles of operation of an optical quantum generator in different conditions.
A key factor in the differences is the principle of interaction of laser radiation with the target substance. In the process of radiation, energy is supplied in certain portions (quanta), which allows you to control the nature of the impact of the emitter on the working medium or material of the target object. Among the basic parameters that allow you to adjust the levels of the electrochemical and optical effects of the laser, there are focusing, the degree of flux concentration, wavelength, directivity, etc. In some technological processes, the temporal mode of radiation also plays a role - for example, pulses can have a duration of a fraction seconds to tens of femtoseconds with interruptions from a moment to several years.
Synergetic laser structure
At the dawn of the concept of the optical laser, it was customary to understand the system of quantum radiation in physical terms as a form of self-organization of several energy components. Thus, the concept of synergetics was formed, which made it possible to formulate the basic properties and stages of the evolutionary development of the laser. Regardless of the type and principle of laser operation, a key factor in its action is to go beyond the equilibrium of light atoms when the system becomes unstable and at the same time open.
Deviations in the spatial symmetry of the radiation create the conditions for the appearance of a pulsed flow. After a certain amount of pumping (deviation) is reached, the optical quantum generator of coherent radiation becomes controllable and passes into an ordered dissipative structure with elements of a self-organizing system. Under certain conditions, the device can operate in the mode of pulsed radiation cyclically, and its changes will lead to chaotic pulsations.
Laser working components
Now it’s worth moving from the principle of operation to specific physical and technical conditions in which a laser system with certain characteristics operates. The most important, from the point of view of operability of optical quantum generators, is the active medium. In particular, the intensity of the flow amplification, the feedback properties, and the optical signal as a whole depend on it. For example, radiation can occur in a gas mixture, which most laser devices today work on.
The next component is represented by an energy source. With its help, conditions are created to maintain the inversion of the population of atoms in the active medium. If we draw an analogy with the synergetic structure, then the energy source will act as a kind of factor in the deviation of light from the normal state. The more powerful the support, the higher the pumping of the system and the more effective the laser action. The third component of the working infrastructure is the resonator, which provides multiple radiation when passing through the working environment. The same component contributes to the conclusion of optical radiation in the useful spectrum.
Helium-neon laser device
The most common form factor of a modern laser, the structural basis of which is a gas discharge tube, optical resonator mirrors, and an electrical power supply. A mixture of helium and neon is used as the working medium (tube filler), as the name implies. The tube itself is made of quartz glass. The thickness of standard cylindrical structures varies from 4 to 15 mm, and the length is from 5 cm to 3 m. At the ends of the tubes they are closed by flat glasses with a slight slope, which ensures a sufficient level of laser polarization.
An helium-neon mixture optical quantum generator has a small spectral emission bandwidth of the order of 1.5 GHz. This characteristic provides a number of operational advantages, determining the success of the apparatus in interferometry, devices for reading visual information, spectroscopy, etc.
Semiconductor laser device
The working medium in such devices is occupied by a semiconductor, which is based on crystalline elements in the form of impurities with atoms of a tri- or pentavalent chemical (silicon, indium). In terms of conductivity, this laser stands between dielectrics and high-grade conductors. The difference in working qualities is based on the parameters of temperature values, the concentration of impurities and the nature of the physical effect on the target material. In this case, the energy source of pumping may be electricity, magnetic radiation, or an electron beam.
A semiconductor optical quantum generator often uses a high-power solid-state LED that can store large amounts of energy. Another thing is that work in conditions of increased electrical and mechanical loads quickly leads to wear of the working elements.
Dye laser device
This type of optical generators laid the foundation for the formation of a new direction in laser technology operating with a pulse duration of up to a picosecond. This was made possible thanks to the use of organic dyes as an active medium, however, another laser, usually argon, should perform the pump function.
As for the design of optical dye quantum generators, a special base in the form of a cuvette is used to provide ultrashort pulses, where vacuum conditions are formed. Models with a ring resonator in such an environment make it possible to pump liquid dye at a speed of up to 10 m / s.
Features of fiber optic emitters
A type of laser device in which the functions of the resonator are performed by an optical fiber. From the point of view of working properties, this generator is the most productive in terms of the volume of optical radiation. And this despite the fact that the design of the device has a very modest size against the background of other types of lasers.
The features of optical quantum generators of this kind include versatility in terms of the ability to connect pump sources. Usually, whole groups of optical waveguides are used for this, which are combined into modules with the active substance, which also contributes to the structural and functional optimization of the device.
Management system implementation
At the heart of most devices is an electrotechnical basis, due to which energy is pumped directly or indirectly. In the simplest systems, it is through this power system that the power indicators are controlled that influence the radiation intensity within a certain optical range.
Professional-grade quantum generators also include a well-developed optical infrastructure for flow control. By means of such modules, in particular, nozzle direction, power and pulse length, frequency, temperature and other operational characteristics are controlled.
Laser Applications
Although optical generators are still devices with not yet fully disclosed capabilities, today it is difficult to name an area wherever they are involved. They gave the most valuable practical effect to the industry as a highly efficient tool for cutting solid materials with minimal costs.
Optical quantum generators are also widely used in medical methods as applied to ocular microsurgery and cosmetology. For example, the so-called bloodless scalpels, which allow not only dissecting, but also connecting biological tissues, have become a universal laser tool in medicine.
Conclusion
Today, there are several promising areas for the development of optical radiation generators. The most popular include layer-by-layer synthesis technology, 3D modeling, the concept of combining with robotics (laser trackers), etc. In each case, its own special application of optical quantum generators is supposed - from surface treatment of materials and ultrafast creation of composite products to fire fighting through radiation.
Obviously, more complex tasks will require increasing the power of laser technology, as a result of which the threshold of its danger will be raised. If today the main reason for ensuring safety when working with such equipment is its harmful effect on the eyes, then in the future we can talk about special protection of materials and objects near which the use of equipment is organized.