Light amplification with open-ended laser tube

[Erik Ayer]

Is it possible to get a laser tube with the ends unmirrored, designed such that a photon being sent through will have a good chance of stimulating another photon to be emitted? If this is possible, then a beam of light going into the tube would be roughly doubled in intensity.

When stimulated emmision occurs, is the stimulated photon physically close to the photon causing the emmision? If so, I would think that if multiple emmisions occurred, the photons would form a sort-of clot as they moved through and exited the tube.

 

[Drakkith]

So you're looking for an optical amplifier?

 

[Erik Ayer]

Yes, that's it. Now, if a beam were split using a standard beam-splitter, both paths amplified, then the beams brought back together, would they create interference?