At the conclusion of this course, students will be familiar with the science behind laser operation and design. They will understand the basic techniques used to modify laser function to achieve spectral purity, short pulse operation, or high-energy output.
There will be a strong emphasis on practical calculation. Problems such as “what pump energy is required to achieve lasing threshold for this system,” will be favored over those like “derive equation 12-04”.
1)
Absorption and emission of radiation.
2) Ray and wave propagation.
3) The laser cavity.
4) Pumping.
5) Continuous wave laser operation.
6) Q-switching (giant pulse operation) and mode-locking
(short pulse operation).
7) Laser types (solid state lasers, dye lasers, gas
lasers).
8) Monochromaticity, coherence and directionality.
9) Additional topics selected by the class will be
considered as time permits.
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Lecturer: |
Prof. Douglass Schumacher |
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Time: |
Tuesday and Thursday, 1:30 - 3:18. |
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Location: |
Smith 2186 |
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Assessment: |
Homework problems. |
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Text: |
Principles of Lasers, 4th Ed. by Orazio Svelto (Plenum, 1998) |
Prerequisites – A basic knowledge of electricity and magnetism, quantum mechanics and mathematics is assumed. This course is aimed at advanced undergraduate students and graduate students at all levels.
Students are welcome to sit in for the first week or two to see if the course suits them. After that, all students attending will be required to register for the course either for credit or to audit.
Douglass
Schumacher
2-7035 (office)
2-7545 (lab)
dws@mps.ohio-state.edu