Rubylaser

Rubylaser is a type of laser that uses a synthetic ruby crystal as its gain medium. It was the first laser to be successfully operated, achieving continuous wave (CW) operation in 1960. The ruby laser operates in the visible red spectrum, typically emitting light at a wavelength of 694.3 nanometers. The laser medium consists of a synthetic ruby crystal, which is a single crystal of aluminum oxide (Al2O3) doped with a small amount of chromium (Cr3+) ions. These chromium ions are responsible for the laser action, as they can be excited to a higher energy level and then release this energy as a photon when they return to a lower energy level.

The ruby laser operates by pumping the ruby crystal with a flashlamp, which excites the chromium ions to a higher energy level. This creates a population inversion, where there are more chromium ions in the excited state than in the ground state. When a photon is introduced into the crystal, it stimulates the emission of additional photons, creating a coherent beam of light. The ruby laser can produce high peak powers and is capable of generating short pulses of light, making it useful in various applications such as rangefinding, spectroscopy, and medical treatments. Despite its historical significance, the ruby laser has largely been replaced by more efficient and versatile laser types in modern applications.