Spontaneous emission — UPSC Physics Optional CSE 2013 Paper I

In a tungsten filament lamp, thermionic emission takes place at 1.2\times10^3\ \mathrm{K}. Calculate the ratio of spontaneous emission to stimulated emission for non-degenerate energy levels. Interpret your result physically. Take \lambda=550\ \mathrm{nm}, k_B=1.38\times10^{-2}\ \mathrm{J\,K^{-1}}, h=6.67\times10^{-34}\ \mathrm{J\,s} and c=3\times10^8\ \mathrm{m\,s^{-1}}.