Radiation, Transitions, and Coherence

Distinguish absorption, spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission using their state transitions and radiation properties.

Calculate absorption and stimulated-emission rates from Einstein coefficients and spectral energy density.

Determine whether a specified set of level populations constitutes a population inversion after accounting for level degeneracy.

Distinguish homogeneous from inhomogeneous broadening and identify the dominant mechanism in a given physical situation.

Calculate the stimulated-emission cross section from a normalized line shape and transition parameters.

Relate optical linewidth to coherence time and coherence length for a specified line shape.