Laser Crystal Gifts

Absorption coefficient and the relation with the laser pumping ?

Can anyone tell me whats the physical meaning of the absorption co efficient of the laser crystals ? In what way they are related to the pumping wavelength ? How does it decide the laser damage threshold of the material at that pump wavelength ? Please help me to understand in a simple manner. To Robert: I calculated the absorption coefficient of the rare earth ions doped in the laser crystals. I got some value. Whats the physical meaning of it ? If the absorption coefficient is high, why it causes the damage when pumped at that wavelength ?

Public Comments

1. I don't fully understand the question but I would think of resonance were the frequency matches the atomic structure but unresonance would cause damage, reduced or no emission.