Define stimulated emission

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Stimulated emission refers to a process in which an excited atom or molecule releases a photon (light particle) when it is interacted with by another photon of the same energy or frequency. This process is a fundamental principle in the functioning of lasers.

In stimulated emission, an electron in an excited state of an atom or molecule is induced to transition to a lower energy state by the presence of an incident photon of the same energy. This incident photon stimulates the release of a secondary photon, resulting in two identical photons being emitted in the same direction and with the same frequency, phase, and polarization.

Stimulated emission is a key component in the amplification of light in lasers. When a medium (such as a solid crystal, gas, or liquid) containing a large number of atoms or molecules in an excited state is subject to external pumping, the stimulated emission process can lead to the emission of a coherent and intense beam of light, forming a laser beam. This amplification of light through stimulated emission enables lasers to be used in various applications, including telecommunications, medicine, industry, and research.