PH 482/582-TS Laser Physics II (Spring 2012)
Lecture: Monday, Wednesday 4:00-5:15 pm, Campbell Hall (CH) Room 394.
Professor: Sergey B. Mirov, Office Hours: Wednesday, 10:00am-12:00 n 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 PH582 will be usually assigned additional (with respect to students of PH482)
homework and exam problems.
Related UAB core learning outcomes: Students successfully completing this course will
demonstrate knowledge of fundamentals of laser physics, characteristics of laser radiation,
individual types of lasers, including optically pumped dielectric crystal lasers, molecular gas lasers,
and semiconductor lasers, ray tracing in optical systems, optical cavity design, nonlinear optics, and
physical aspects of detection of optical radiation.
Course learning objectives:
 Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental aspects of laser physics and
engineering of lasers of all kinds, including principles of frequency up- and down
conversion, optical cavities design and analysis, characterization and detection of coherent
and incoherent optical radiation, 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:
Exam 1 (1h15m)
Exam 2 (1h15m)
Exam 3 (1h15m)
Final Exam (2.5 hr)
TOTAL:
PH581
A: 90% or above
B: 80%-89.9%
C: 70%-79.9%
D: 60%-69.9%
F: 59.9% and below
25%
15%
15%
15%
30%
100%
(250 pts)
(150 pts)
(150 pts)
(150 pts)
(300 pts)
(1000 pts)
PH481
A: 80% or above
B: 70%-79.9%
C: 60%-69.9%
D: 50%-59.9%
F: 49.9% and below
Last day to withdraw from course with a “W” (Undergraduate only) is March 29, 2012
Your grades and other useful information are available at
http://heisenberg.phy.uab.edu/~mirov/SMirov_Teaching_Page22.htm
Tentative Schedule:
#
Date
Text
Topics
1
2
Jan 9 (Mo)
Jan 11 (We)
LEO Ch12.1-12.4, Class Lecture
LEO Ch12.1-12.4, Class Lecture
3
Jan 16 (Mo)
Jan 18 (Th)
MLK Holiday
LEO Ch12.1-12.4, Class Lecture
4
5
6
7
Jan 23 (Mo)
Jan 25 (We)
Jan 30 (Mo)
Feb 1 (We)
Class Lecture
Class Lecture
Exam 1 - Grades
Ch 13.1-13.7 and class lecture
8
Feb 6 (Mo)
Ch 13.1-13.7 and class lecture
9
10
11
12
13
14
Feb 8 (We)
Feb 13 (Mo)
Feb 15 (We)
Feb 20 (Mo)
Feb 22 (We)
Feb 27 (Mo)
15
Feb 29 (We)
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
Mar 5 (Mo)
Mar 7 (We)
Mar 12 (Mo)
Mar 14 (We)
Mar 19 (Mo)
Mar 21 (We)
Mar 26(Mo)
Mar 28 (We)
April 2 (Mo)
(Ch.13.8-13.12)
(Ch.13.13-13.15)
(Class Lecture, Ch.14)
(Class Lecture or Ch.16.1-16.7)
(Class Lecture or Ch.16.1-16.7)
(Class Lecture or Ch.15 and
Ch.16.8-16.14)
(Class Lecture or Ch.15 and
Ch.16.8-16.14)
Ch.16.8-16.14)
Exam 2 Grades
(LEO Ch. 18)
(LEO Ch. 18)
Spring Break
Spring Break
(LEO Ch. 18)
(LEO Ch. 20, 21)
(LEO Ch. 21)
Tunable Lasers, Organic Dye Lasers
Tunable Solid State Lasers, Alexandrite & Ti-Sapph.
Lasers, TM:II-VI Lasers(Class Lecture)
No classes
Tunable Solid State Lasers, Alexandrite & Ti-Sapph.
Lasers, TM:II-VI Lasers(Class Lecture)
Color Center Lasers
Color Center Lasers
Exam 1 over chapter 12 – Correct Solution
Semiconductor Lasers, Semiconductor Physics
Background
Semiconductor Lasers, Semiconductor Physics
Background
Semiconductor Lasers
Semiconductor Lasers
Ray Tracing in an Optical System
Gaussian Beams
Gaussian Beams
Optical Cavities
23
April 4 (We)
(LEO Ch. 21)
24
April 9 (Mo)
(LEO Ch. 19, 21)
25
April 11 (We)
(LEO Ch. 19, 21)
26
27
28
29
30
31
April 16 (Mo)
April 18 (We)
April 23 (Mo)
April 25 (We)
April 30 (Tu)
May 7 (Mo)
(LEO Ch.22.1-22.8)
(LEO Ch.22.6-22.8)
(LEO Ch.22.6-22.8)
Exam 3
Review for Final
FINAL GRADES
Optical Cavities
Optical Cavities
Exam 2 over chapters 13-16 Correct Solutions
Optics of Anisotropic Media
Optics of Anisotropic Media
No classes
No classes
Optics of Anisotropic Media
Wave Propagation in Nonlinear Media
2nd Harm. Generation. Up and Down-Conversion, Optical
Parametr. Amplification
2nd Harm. Generation. Up and Down-Conversion, Optical
Parametr. Amplification
The Electro-Optics and Acousto-Optic Effects and
Modulaton of Light Beams
The Electro-Optics and Acousto-Optic Effects and
Modulaton of Light Beams
Detection of Optical Radiation
Detection of Optical Radiation
Detection of Optical Radiation
Exam 3 over chapters 18-22 Correct Solutions
Review for Final
FINAL EXAM Over Chapters 12-22 and class notes
4:15-6:45pm CH 394