481/581-2D Laser Physics I (Spring 2006)

 

Lecture: Initially lectures will be on on Monday, Wednesday, 5:30-6:45 pm, Campbell Hall (CH) Room 302, Tuesday, Thursday, 12:30-1:45 pm, Campbell Hall (CH) Room 435, eventually we will try to change schedule on Monday, Wednesday, 5:30-6:45 pm, Campbell Hall (CH) Room 302.

 

Professor: Sergey B. Mirov, Office Hours: Tu, 3:00-5:00 p.m. in CH 421B or by appointment (4-8088, mirov@uab.edu).

Course Text:  Lasers and Electro-Optics, Fundamentals and Engineering by Christopher Davis

Supplemental Books: Lasers and Electro-Optics by Christopher Davis (LEO) is the only textbook that will be required.  However, the textbook material will be significantly augmented by additional in-class lecture material, particularly in the area of lasers and applications of laser spectroscopy.  The exams and homework will cover material from LEO and the in-class lectures.  For students that would like sources of additional reading (again, this is not necessary, but some students like to have additional reading sources), other excellent books include: (i) Fundamentals of Photonics by B.E.A. Saleh & M.C. Teich; (ii) Laser Fundamentals by William Silfvast, (iii) Optical Electronics by Amnon Yariv; (iiii) Laser Spectroscopy by Wolfgang Demtroder; (iiiii) Principles of Lasers by Orazio Svelto.

Homework: Homework problems will be assigned weekly, at the end of class and will be due the following week at the beginning of the class to verify your continuing effort. It is absolutely critical to work these problems yourselves when they are assigned, since this will help to lock in understanding of the physical principles learned from class and the textbook and develop problem solving skills which will be necessary for any type of success on the exams.

Exams: The exams will be based on problems related to (but often with important differences) homework problems and problems discussed in class.  The intent of the exam problems will be to test your understanding of physics principles and to test your ability to apply these principles to practice. The exams will be graded on a step-by-step basis, with partial credit awarded for correct steps and techniques even if the answer is wrong.  Full credit will be awarded only if the right answer is obtained for the right reason.

 

Students of PH581 will be usually assigned  additional (with respect to students of PH481) homework and exam problems.

 

Related UAB core learning outcomes: Students successfully completing this course will demonstrate knowledge of fundamentals of laser physics, the characteristics of laser radiation, and individual types of lasers, including optically pumped dielectric crystal lasers, atomic gas lasers, molecular gas lasers, and semiconductor lasers.  

 

Course learning objectives: 

  • Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental aspects of laser physics and engineering of lasers of all kinds, including fundamental physics of stimulated emission process and laser amplifiers, optical resonators, characteristics of laser radiation and methods for controlling it, as well as practical aspects of optics that pertain to an understanding of these subjects.  
  • Demonstrate ability to apply the knowledge of the fundamental aspects of laser physics as well as quantitative reasoning and mathematical analysis skills to effectively solve problems.

 

Measurement of learning objectives: Homework problem sets and exams will be used regularly to measure understanding of the fundamental concepts presented as well as students’ abilities to apply this understanding to problems in laser physics. Both, problem sets and exams also provide an opportunity to evaluate the progression of students’ understanding of physical concepts and problem solving skills.

 

Grading:         Homework:                                                     20%                 (200 pts)

              Exam 1 (1h15m)                                              15%                 (150 pts)

              Exam 2 (1h15m)                                              15%                 (150 pts)

              Exam 3 (1h15m)                                              15%                 (150 pts)

              Final Exam (2.5 hr)                                         35%                 (350 pts)

              TOTAL:                                                          100%               (1000 pts)

 

PH581                                                                 PH481

A: 90% or above                                                  A: 80% or above

B: 80%-89.9%                                                    B: 70%-79.9%

C: 70%-79.9%                                                    C: 60%-69.9%

D: 60%-69.9%                                                    D: 50%-59.9%   

F: 59.9% and below                                            F: 49.9% and below

 

Last day to withdraw from course with a “W” (Undergraduate only) is March 7, 2006

 

Last day to withdraw from course with a “W” (Graduate only) is April 26, 2006

 

Your grades and other useful information are available at  

http://heisenberg.phy.uab.edu/~mirov/SMirov_Teaching_Page22.htm


Tentative Schedule:

 

Date, Place & Time

Topics

1

Jan.5(Th) 435; 12:30-1:45

Introduction, Spontaneous and Stimulated Transitions (Ch. 1) – Lecture Notes

2

Jan.9(M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Spontaneous and Stimulated Transitions (Ch. 1) – Lecture Notes

Homework 1: PH481 Ch.1 problems 1.4 &1.6

PH581 Ch.1 problems 1.4, 1.6 & 1.8 due Jan 12 before class

3

Jan.10(Tu) 435; 12:30-1:45

Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.1-2.4) – Lecture Notes

Problem solving for Ch.1

4

Jan.11(W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.5-2.8) – Lecture Notes

5

Jan.12(Th) 435; 12:30-1:45

Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.9-2-10). Problem solving for Ch.2

Introduction to two Practical Laser Systems

(The Ruby Laser, The Helium Neon Laser) (Ch. 3) – Lecture Notes

Homework 2: PH481 Ch.2 problems 2.2 (a,b), 2.4 & 2.5 (a,b)

PH581 Ch.2 problems 2.2 (a,b), 2.4 & 2.5 (a,b,c,d) due Jan.19 before class

 

 

Jan 16 (Mo) no classes

MLK Birthday - no classes

6

Jan.17 (Tu) 435;12:30-1:45

Passive Optical Resonators (Ch. 4.1-4.5) Review Chapters 1 & 2.

Lecture Notes

7

Jan.18 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

 

8

Jan.19 (Th) 435;12:30-1:45

Exam 1 Over Chapters 1-3 Grades for exam 1 and Homework 1 & 2

 

Week of Jan 22 no classes

Photonics West Conference – no classes

 

Week of Jan 29 no classes

Advanced Solid State Photonics Conference – no classes

9

Feb.6 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Exam 1 and homework problem solving.

10

Feb.7 (Tu) 435;12:30-1:45

Physical significance of c’ and c’’ (Ch.2.8-2.9). Passive Optical Resonators (Ch. 4.1-4.5) updated

 

Starting from Feb. 8

All classes, except final exam, will be on M&W in CH 302 from 5:30 till 6:45

11

Feb.8 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Passive Optical Resonators updated(Ch. 4.6-4.7).

12

Feb. 13 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Passive Optical Resonators updated(Ch. 4.6-4.7).

Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (5.1-2).

Homework 3: read Ch.2 & Ch.4. Problems from CH.4: 4.2 & 4.4. Due Feb. 15

13

Feb. 15 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (Ch.5.3-5.7)

14

Feb. 20 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (Ch.5.3-5.7)

Homework 4: Ch. 5 problems 5.7 and 5.9. Due Feb 27.

15

Feb.22 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (Ch.5.3-5.7)

16

Feb. 27 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Laser Radiation (Ch. 6.1-6.5)

Homework 5: Ch. 6 problems 6.1 and 6.5. Due March 6.

17

Mar. 1 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Laser Radiation (Ch. 6.6-6.10)

18

Mar. 6 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Control of Laser Oscillators (7.1-7.6)

19

Mar. 8 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Control of Laser Oscillators (7.5-7.6)

20

Mar. 13 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Exam 2 Over Chapters 4-7 Grades for exam 2

Exam 2 correct solution

21

Mar. 15 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.1-8.11)

22

Mar. 20 (M) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.1-8.11)

23

Mar. 22 (W) 302; 5:30-6:45

Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.12-8.16); Homework 7 Due April 3; Article on Cr:ZnSe

 

Mar. 27 (M) no classes

Spring Break – no classes

 

Mar. 29 (W) no classes

Spring Break – no classes

24

Apr. 3 (M)

Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.12-8.16)

25

Apr. 5 (W)

Spectroscopy of Common Lasers and Gas Lasers  (Ch. 9.1-9.3 and class material)

26

Apr. 10 (M)

Gas lasers (Ch. 9.4 -9.10);

27

Apr. 12 (W)

Molecular Gas lasers I  (Ch. 10.1-10.6)

28

Apr. 17 (M)

Molecular Gas lasers I  (Ch. 10.7-10.9)

29

Apr. 19 (W)

Exam 3 Over Chapters 8-11 Grades

Exam 3 Correct solution

30

Apr. 24 (M)

Molecular Gas Lasers II  (Ch. 11.1-11.8)

31

Apr. 26 (W)

Review for Final

32

May 2 (Tu) in CH 435

FINAL EXAM Over Chapters 1-13 (10:45am-1:15pm) in CH 302 Final Grades