What basic law of Physics tells us that a laser cannot produce 100% monochromatic light?

Expert Solution

The energy of a photon determines its wavelength through the relationship E = hc/?, where c is the speed of light, h is Planck's constant, and ? is wavelength. In an ideal case, the laser emits all photons with the same energy, and thus the same wavelength, it is said to be monochromatic. The light from a laser typically comes from one atomic transition with a single precise wavelength. So the laser light has a single spectral color and is almost the purest monochromatic light available.

However, in all practical cases, the laser light is not truly monochromatic. A truly monochromatic wave requires a wave train of infinite duration. The spectral emission line from which it originates does have a finite width, because of the Doppler effect of the moving atoms or molecules from which it comes. Compared to the ordinary sources of light, the range of frequency (line width) of the laser is extremely small. This range is called line width or bandwidth.

genius_generous answered 5 months ago

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