Skip to Main Content

Principal Sponsors

The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
The Hewlett Logo

Makes grants to address the most serious social and environmental problems facing society, where risk capital, responsibly invested, may make a difference over time.
The NSF LogoNational Science Foundation

An independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 to promote the progress of science.

Excellence Center of Science and Mathematics Education at King Saud University LogoExcellence Center of Science and Mathematics Education at King Saud University

King Saud University seeks to become a leader in educational and technological innovation, scientific discovery and creativity through fostering an atmosphere of intellectual inspiration and partnership for the prosperity of society.

Other Sponsors Logo

Lasers

Create a laser by pumping the chamber with a photon beam. Manage the energy states of the laser's atoms to control its output.

 
See changelog
Version 4.06
1498 KB
share sim: Icon for Digg StumbleUpon Toolbar
Topics Teaching Ideas Software Requirements Translated Versions Credits

Topics

Main Topics

  • Laser
  • Photon beam
  • Quantum Mechanics

Related Topics

Sample Learning Goals

  • Describe how absorption and spontaneous and stimulated emission work, and explain the requirements for each to occur.
  • Describe how a laser works.
  • Explain the requirements for lasing in terms of the intensity and wavelength of the lamp, the mirror reflectivity, and the lifetimes of the excited states of the atom.
  • Troubleshoot a broken laser.

Go to Top Image

Teaching Ideas

Tips for Teachers

The teacher's guide contains tips for teachers created by the PhET team (PDF).

Ideas and Activities for this Sim

There are 4 contributions listed.

Ascending Sort (Z-A)Title Author Level Type Updated
Blackbody Spectrum & Lasers Simulations Homework Designed by PhET IconK. PerkinsHS
UG-Intro		HW11/08
Bose-Einstein Condensation Lesson Designed by PhET IconC. WiemanUG-Intro
UG-Adv
HS		CQs
Demo		7/08
How to make a laser Designed by PhET IconImage of Gold StarS. McKaganUG-Intro
UG-Adv		HW7/08
Light Emission and Lasers D. DandaneauUG-Intro
HS		Other
Lab		4/09

Submit Your Ideas & Activities

Note: The maximum file size is 64M, with a maximum upload of 64M at a time.

Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).

title*
file(s)
grade level(s)*
Check the PhET design guidelines (PDF)

Go to Top Image

Software Requirements

Java Icon

Windows Systems Macintosh Systems Linux Systems
Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7
Sun Java 1.5.0_15 or later
 OS 10.4.11 or later
Apple Java 1.5.0_19 or later
 Sun Java 1.5.0_15 or later

Go to Top Image

Translated Versions

Run localized Download
Chinese Taiwan Chinese, Taiwan Download
Croatian Croatian Download
Dutch Dutch Download
Finnish Finnish Download
Hungarian Hungarian Download
Mongolian Mongolian Download
Polish Polish Download
Portuguese Portuguese Download
Portuguese Brazil Portuguese, Brazil Download
Russian Russian Download
Slovak Slovak Download
Spanish Spanish Download
Turkish Turkish Download
Ukrainian Ukrainian Download
Vietnamese Vietnamese Download

Go to Top Image

Credits

Design Team Third-party Libraries Thanks To
  • Ron LeMaster (developer)
  • Sam McKagan
  • Kathy Perkins
  • Carl Wieman
  • Interviewer: Danielle Harlow
Login / Register