Homogeneous Saturation
Definition: saturation of an absorption or gain, where the shape of the absorption or gain spectrum is not modified
German: homogene Sättigung
Category: physical foundations
How to cite the article; suggest additional literature
Author: Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta
If a strong light beam is amplified in a gain medium, the gain can be saturated. This saturation is called homogeneous if the shape of the gain spectrum is not modified. Homogeneous saturation usually occurs when the finite gain bandwidth is caused by homogeneous broadening. However, quasi-homogeneous saturation is also sometimes observed despite inhomogeneous broadening in situations where many different Stark level transitions overlap. For example, some rare-earth-doped glasses (e.g. neodymium-doped phosphate glasses) exhibit quasi-homogeneous saturation, leading to laser operation with relatively low optical bandwidth.
Questions and Comments from Users
Here you can submit questions and comments. As far as they get accepted by the author, they will appear above this paragraph together with the author’s answer. The author will decide on acceptance based on certain criteria. Essentially, the issue must be of sufficiently broad interest.
Please do not enter personal data here; we would otherwise delete it soon. (See also our privacy declaration.) If you wish to receive personal feedback or consultancy from the author, please contact him e.g. via e-mail.
By submitting the information, you give your consent to the potential publication of your inputs on our website according to our rules. (If you later retract your consent, we will delete those inputs.) As your inputs are first reviewed by the author, they may be published with some delay.
See also: homogeneous broadening, inhomogeneous saturation
and other articles in the category physical foundations
 |
If you like this page, please share the link with your friends and colleagues, e.g. via social media:
These sharing buttons are implemented in a privacy-friendly way!