This is a single semester course on Lasers. Although currently called "Laser Engineering" it is being renamed "Principals of Lasers" and is a new introductory course on lasers. It is suitable for students with backgrounds in physics, electrical engineering, chemistry and other disciplines who require a fundamental knowledge of lasers and how they operate. For students at the College of Optics it is considered the primary introductory laser course and is now part of the core curriculum. The course covers the basic physics of laser operation, and includes understandings of resonator theory, pulsed and continuous wave operation of lasers. Most popular lasers are described, as well as a pulsed techniques such as Q-switching, mode-locking and harmonic generation. The student is also introduced to the exciting types of new lasers being developed. After taking this course, students should be able to take more advanced courses in Lasers. It is the pre-requisite for the laboratory course, OSE 6526 Laser Laboratory.

Credit Hours

• 3 hours

Prerequisite

• OSE5312 Fundamentals of Optical Science
• or alternate by permission of the instructor

Required References

• Class Notes (provided by instructor)

Suggested References

1. Svelto “Principles of Lasers” 4^th Ed. Springer. (preferred)
2. Silfvast “Laser Fundamentals” Cambridge UP

Course Outline

1. Introduction, History, Properties of Laser Light
2. Blackbody Radiation, Planck's Theorem
3. Absorption, Spontaneous & Stimulated Emission
4. Line Broadening Mechanisms, Non-radiative transitions, degenerate levels,
5. Saturation - Homogeneous and Inhomogeneous lines: Fluorescence - Radiation trapping, Amplified Spontaneous Emission
6. Molecules
7. Bulk Semiconductors
8. Semiconductor Quantum Wells
9. Matrix Formulation of Geometrical Optics: Reflection and transmission at an interface
10. Fabry-Perot Interferometer: Diffraction in the Parametric Approximation
11. Gaussian Beams, modes: ABCD matrices
12. Properties of Resonators
13. Stable resonators Unstable resonators
14. Incoherent Light pumping
15. Laser pumping: laser diode pumping
16. Electric Pumping
17. Rate Equations
18. Threshold conditions : 3 and 4 level systems
19. Single mode selection
20. Relaxation Oscillations
21. Q-Switching
22. Mode-locking and Ultra-fast lasers
23. Crystal lasers
24. Glass and fiber lasers
25. Semiconductor lasers: Homo-junction lasers, Double Hetero-junction lasers
26. Quantum Well lasers ,VSEL's
27. HeNe, CO₂ and Excimer Lasers