population inversion


noun Physics.

a condition of matter in which more electrons are in a high energy state than in a lower energy state, as is required for the operation of a laser.

Origin of population inversion

First recorded in 1960–65

Scientific definitions for population inversion

population inversion

The condition of having enough excited or high-energy states distributed throughout a substance to sustain a chain-reaction of stimulated emission. Lasers, for example, need a constant power source that maintains population inversion in order to generate radiation continuously, since each stimulated emission reduces the population of high-energy states. See also stimulated emission.