Chapter 33: Problem 69
Some neodymium-glass lasers can provide \(100 \mathrm{TW}\) of power in \(2.2 \mathrm{~ns}\) pulses at a wavelength of \(0.26 \mu \mathrm{m}\). How much energy is contained in a single pulse?
Short Answer
Expert verified
The energy in a single pulse is 220,000 J (220 kJ).
Step by step solution
01
Understand the Given Values
In this problem, we are given the power of the laser as \(100 \; \text{TW}\) (terawatts) and the duration of the pulse as \(2.2 \; \text{ns}\) (nanoseconds). We need to find out the energy contained in a single pulse.
02
Convert Units
First, we need to convert the power from terawatts (TW) to watts (W) and the time from nanoseconds (ns) to seconds (s).1 TW = \(10^{12}\; \text{W} \), so \(100 \; \text{TW} = 100 \times 10^{12} \; \text{W} \).1 ns = \(10^{-9}\; \text{s} \), so \(2.2 \; \text{ns} = 2.2 \times 10^{-9} \; \text{s}\).
03
Use the Formula for Energy
The energy \(E\) of a pulse can be calculated using the formula \(E = P \times t\), where \(P\) is the power and \(t\) is the time duration of the pulse.
04
Insert the Values
Insert the given values into the energy formula:\[ E = 100 \times 10^{12} \; \text{W} \times 2.2 \times 10^{-9} \; \text{s} \]
05
Calculate the Energy
Multiply the values to find the energy.\[ E = 100 \times 2.2 \times 10^{12} \times 10^{-9} \; \text{J} \]\[ E = 220 \times 10^{3} \; \text{J} \]\[ E = 220,000 \; \text{J} \]
06
Present the Answer
The energy contained in a single pulse is \(220,000 \; \text{J}\), or equivalently, \(220 \; \text{kJ}\) (kilojoules).
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Key Concepts
These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.
Neodymium-glass lasers
Neodymium-glass lasers are a special type of laser that utilize neodymium ions embedded in a glass matrix to produce high-powered laser emissions. These lasers excel in applications requiring extremely high energy output due to their ability to release energy in short, powerful bursts.
Neodymium-glass lasers are commonly used in industrial and scientific fields. Some of their primary uses include:
Neodymium-glass lasers are commonly used in industrial and scientific fields. Some of their primary uses include:
- Cutting and welding in manufacturing processes.
- Targeting and focusing in scientific research, including nuclear fusion experiments.
- Medical applications such as laser surgery and skin treatments.
Power conversion
Power conversion is a crucial step in understanding and using lasers effectively. It involves converting the measurable power of a laser from a seemingly abstract unit to watts, the standard unit of power.
For neodymium-glass lasers, power is often given in terawatts (TW). Here's how the conversion works:
For neodymium-glass lasers, power is often given in terawatts (TW). Here's how the conversion works:
- 1 terawatt (TW) is equal to \(10^{12}\) watts (W).
- To convert 100 TW to watts, we multiply: \(100 \times 10^{12} \; \text{W}\).
- Resulting in a massive \(100,000,000,000,000 \; \text{W}\).
Pulse duration
Pulse duration refers to the time over which a laser emits its energy in a single burst. For neodymium-glass lasers, this duration is often extremely short, measured in nanoseconds (ns).
Consider the following:
Consider the following:
- 1 nanosecond (ns) is \(10^{-9}\) seconds.
- In our example, the laser pulse lasts \(2.2 \; \text{ns}\).
- This converts to \(2.2 \times 10^{-9} \; \text{s}\).
Wavelength
The wavelength of a laser is the distance between two consecutive peaks of the light wave emitted by the laser. Neodymium-glass lasers operate at specific wavelengths, which determines the color and type of light they produce.
Key points about laser wavelength include:
Key points about laser wavelength include:
- Wavelength is usually measured in micrometers (\(\mu\text{m}\)).
- The neodymium-glass laser in this exercise has a wavelength of \(0.26 \; \mu\text{m}\).
- This corresponds to ultraviolet light, which is beyond the visible spectrum for human eyes.