An Overview on the Neon Copper Laser

Abstract

It is commonly known that neon copper lasers may generate deep ultraviolet wavelengths. The wavelength of this laser is 248 nm. This laser\'s tiny oscillation line widths, which are less than 3GHz, are another noteworthy feature. Such narrow oscillations are ideal for Raman spectroscopy with fluorescence suppression. Electric discharge serves as the pumping source. The buffer for the lasing medium is copper vapor in neon gas. [22]

Introduction

A laser (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation) is a device that emits coherent light through optical amplification based on stimulated emission. The first laser was created by Theodore Maiman in 1960, building on theoretical work by Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow. Lasers are distinct from other light sources due to their spatial coherence, allowing precise focusing, collimation over long distances, and temporal coherence, enabling narrow frequency emission or ultrashort light pulses.

Applications: Lasers are used in cutting, welding, optical communications, medical procedures (like eye surgery), entertainment (laser shows), military, law enforcement, semiconductor manufacturing, and automotive lighting. Early devices, called masers, worked at microwave frequencies, while lasers now operate across the electromagnetic spectrum, including infrared, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray ranges.

Historical Development: Albert Einstein theorized stimulated emission in 1916. Rudolf Ladenburg observed it in 1928. Townes, Schawlow, and Gould developed concepts leading to the first laser patents and practical devices. Maiman’s ruby laser (1960) was the first operational laser, followed by helium-neon and semiconductor lasers. Early commercial uses included barcode scanners, laser printers, and optical discs.

Principle of Operation: Lasers rely on quantum energy levels. Atoms are excited to higher energy states, then emit photons either spontaneously or through stimulated emission. A population inversion is required for lasing, achieved via optical or electrical pumping. Lasers may have three- or four-level energy systems, with four-level lasers allowing continuous operation.

Laser Components and Characteristics: A laser typically contains a gain medium, pumping source, and optical resonator (mirrors). Laser light is monochromatic, coherent, and collimated, with output varying from continuous-wave to pulsed beams. Beam divergence depends on aperture size and wavelength, while coherence length indicates the phase stability of the light. Power ranges from microwatts to over a million watts, with ultrashort pulses reaching femtosecond durations.

Neon-Copper Laser: Neon-copper (Ne-Cu) lasers are gas-metal vapor lasers producing visible light (green 510.6 nm and yellow 578.2 nm) with narrow linewidths (<3 GHz), ideal for Raman spectroscopy. Neon acts as a buffer gas, stabilizing the discharge and aiding copper atom excitation. Copper atoms are electrically excited to emit photons in short, high-power pulses. These lasers are primarily used in scientific research.

Conclusion

It is commonly known that neon copper lasers may generate deep ultraviolet wavelengths. The wavelength of this laser is 248 nm. This laser\'s tiny oscillation line widths (less than 3GHz) are another noteworthy feature. Such narrow oscillations are ideal for Raman spectroscopy with fluorescence suppression. Electric discharge serves as the pumping source. The buffer for the lasing medium is copper vapor in neon gas. [22]

References

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Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Muhammad Arif Bin Jalil. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.