A metastable state is important for the generation of a laser beam because it assures that:
A)spontaneous emission does not occur more often than stimulated emission
B)photons do not split too rapidly
C)more photons are emitted than are absorbed
D)photons do not collide with each other
E)photons do not make upward transitions

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

In a metastable state, the excited atoms or ions have a longer lifetime before they return to their ground state. This means that stimulated emission is favored over spontaneous emission, ensuring that more photons are emitted through stimulated emission than through spontaneous emission, which is critical for the generation of a laser beam.

A Metastable State Is Important for the Generation of a Laser