- #1
kevincb672
- 4
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- Homework Statement
- How are we to calculate the attenuation necessary to reduce the number of photons emitted from a laser beam to one photon per meter?
- Relevant Equations
- N = Plambda/hc(^2)
where N = photons per meter, P = power of beam, lambda = wave length, h = planck's constant, c = speed of light
E = hc/lambda
where E = energy of single photon
Hi there. I am attempting to do calculations for my own project, the question being what is the attenuation necessary to reduce the number of photons in a beam to single-photon levels. N approximately 1 or 2.
The laser in question is a 650nm 5mW laser.
I have solved the energy per photon 3.06*10(^-19) J.
I have solved the number of photons emitted from the laser beam per second 1.63*10(^16) photons of light per second.
I am struggling to find the photons per meter. I may have got the previous calculations wrong as well.
My calculations suggest 5.44662309×10(^12). A small part of me wants to be this wrong as this is if I am right entailing the need for the laser to be attenuated by 10x(^-12) so 12 orders of magnitude. If that is right of course.
I am very appreciative of any and all help. I've probably got this all wrong lol.
Thanks
The laser in question is a 650nm 5mW laser.
I have solved the energy per photon 3.06*10(^-19) J.
I have solved the number of photons emitted from the laser beam per second 1.63*10(^16) photons of light per second.
I am struggling to find the photons per meter. I may have got the previous calculations wrong as well.
My calculations suggest 5.44662309×10(^12). A small part of me wants to be this wrong as this is if I am right entailing the need for the laser to be attenuated by 10x(^-12) so 12 orders of magnitude. If that is right of course.
I am very appreciative of any and all help. I've probably got this all wrong lol.
Thanks