Laser Physics (U01410)

? Credit Points : 10 ? SCQF Level : 10 ? Acronym : PHY-4-Lasers

Lasers are now commonplace throughout many aspects of everyday life, e.g. in CD players, telecoms, industrial processing and machines as well as in advanced systems for medical diagnosis and procedures. The course starts with a review of the basic physics of optical cavities and the spontaneous/stimulated emission from materials leading to laser amplifiers and oscillators. Examples of atomic, ionic and molecular gas lasers are presented including systems for continuous wave and pulsed beam operation. The important class of semiconductor lasers, which are compact and versatile, is discussed.

Entry Requirements

? Pre-requisites : At least 40 credit points accrued in courses of SCQF Level 9 or 10 drawn from Schedule Q, including Optics (PHY-3-Optics). Prior/concurrent attendance at Atomic & Molecular Physics (PHY-4-AtMol) is desirable.

Subject Areas

Home subject area

Undergraduate (School of Physics), (School of Physics, Schedule Q)

Delivery Information

? Normal year taken : 4th year

? Delivery Period : Semester 2 (Blocks 3-4)

? Contact Teaching Time : 2 hour(s) per week for 11 weeks

All of the following classes

Type	Day	Start	End	Area
Lecture	Monday	10:00	10:50	KB
Lecture	Thursday	10:00	10:50	KB

Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course it is intended that a student will be able to:
1)state the defining properties of laser radiation and contrast it to radiation emitted from other commonly encountered light sources
2)state and explain the essential components necessary to built a model laser system
3)explain the need for population inversion and outline the rate equations for a four level system
4)sketch the derivation of cavity modes and discuss effects of homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening on laser modes
5)derive conditions for resonator stability
6)discuss laser beam propagation in terms of Gaussian beams
7)compare different types of lasers (e.g. gas lasers, solid state lasers and semiconductor lasers) and be familiar with some specific realisations of each of these types
8)explain and compare different continuous wave and pulsed operation modes and highlight their relevance for applications
9)state and explain commonly encountered non-linear optical effects