Using a mixture of CO2, N2, and sometimes He, CO2 lasers emit a wavelength of 10.6 um. At power of 0.100 kW, such lasers are used for surgery. How many photons per second does a CO2 laser deliver to the tissue during its use in an operation?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Calculate the energy of a single photon using the formula: E = \frac{hc}{\lambda}, where h is Planck's constant (6.626 x 10^{-34} J\cdot s), c is the speed of light (3.00 x 10^8 m/s), and \lambda is the wavelength of the laser (10.6 um converted to meters, which is 10.6 x 10^{-6} m).
2. Convert the power of the laser from kilowatts to watts (0.100 kW is 100 watts) to use in calculations.
3. Determine the total energy delivered per second by the laser using the formula: Energy per second = Power of the laser (in watts).
4. Calculate the number of photons emitted per second by dividing the total energy per second by the energy of a single photon using the formula: Number of photons per second = \frac{Total energy per second}{Energy per photon}.
5. Ensure all units are consistent throughout the calculations to avoid any errors in the final result.

Key Concepts

Photon Energy

The energy of a photon is determined by its wavelength, given by the equation E = hc/λ, where E is energy, h is Planck's constant, c is the speed of light, and λ is the wavelength. For a CO2 laser emitting at 10.6 micrometers (um), this relationship allows us to calculate the energy of each photon, which is essential for determining how many photons are emitted per second based on the laser's power output.

Power and Energy Relationship

Power is defined as the rate at which energy is transferred or converted, expressed in watts (W), where 1 W = 1 J/s. In the context of the CO2 laser, the power output of 0.100 kW (or 100 W) indicates how much energy is delivered to the tissue per second. This relationship is crucial for calculating the total number of photons emitted per second by dividing the total power by the energy of a single photon.

Photon Flux

Photon flux refers to the number of photons passing through a given area per unit time, typically expressed in photons per second. To find the photon flux of the CO2 laser, one must divide the total power output of the laser by the energy of a single photon. This concept is vital for understanding the intensity of the laser's effect on tissue during surgical procedures.