481/581-VT Laser Physics I (Fall 2011)
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 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:
Exam 1 (1h15m)
Exam 2 (1h15m)
Exam 3 (1h15m)
Final Exam (2.5 h)
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” is October 25, 2013
Your grades and other useful information are available at
http://people.cas.uab.edu/~mirov/SMirov_Teaching_Page22.htm
Tentative Schedule:
1
Date, Place & Time
Aug.26(Mo) 394; 4:00- 5:15
2
Aug.28(We) 394; 4:00-5:15
3
Sep.2 (Mo) No classes
Sep.4 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
4
Sep.9(Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
5
Sep.11(We) 394; 4:00-5:15
6
7
8
9
10
Sep.16 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
Sep.18 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Sep.23 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
Sep.25 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Sep.30 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
11
12
Oct.2 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Oct. 7 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
13
14
Oct. 9 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Oct. 14 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
15
16
17
18
Oct. 16 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Oct. 21 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
Oct. 23 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Oct. 28 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
19
20
Oct. 30 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Nov. 4 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
21
22
Nov. 6 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Nov. 11 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
23
24
25
Nov. 13 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Nov. 18 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
Nov. 20 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
26
27
28
Nov.25 (Mo) No classes
Nov.27 (We) No classes
Dec. 2 (Mo) 394; 4:00-5:15
Dec. 4 (We) 394; 4:00-5:15
Dec. 11 (Wed) in CH 394
Topics
Introduction, Spontaneous and Stimulated Transitions (Ch. 1) – Lecture
Notes
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 Sep.4 before class
Labor Day Holiday
Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.1-2.4) – Lecture Notes
Problem solving for Ch.1
Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.5-2.10) – 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 Sep.18 before class
Problem solving for Ch.2
Introduction to two Practical Laser Systems
(The Ruby Laser, The Helium Neon Laser) (Ch. 3) – Lecture Notes
Review Chapters 1 & 2 – Lecture Notes
Exam 1 Over Chapters 1-3; Grades for exam 1
Exam 1 problem solving. Passive Optical Resonators (Ch. 4.1-4.5)
Passive Optical Resonators (Ch. 4.6-4.7).
Passive Optical Resonators updated(Ch. 4.6-4.7). Physical significance of χ’
and χ’’ (Ch.2.8-2.9). Homework 3: read Ch.2 & Ch.4. Problems from CH.4:
4.2 & 4.4. Due Oct. 7
Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (5.1-2).
Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (Ch.5.3-5.7) Homework
4: Ch. 5 problems 5.7 and 5.9. Due Oct 14.
Laser Radiation (Ch. 6.1-6.4)
Control of Laser Oscillators (7.1-7.3) Homework 5: Ch. 6 problems 6.1 and
6.5. Due Oct 21.
Control of Laser Oscillators (7.4-7.5) and exam 2 review
Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.1-8.11)
Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.1-8.11)
Exam 2 Over Chapters 4-7 Grades for exam 2
Exam 2 correct solution; Homework 6 Due Nov. 4; Article on Cr:CdSe
Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.15-8.16)
Supplemental material for Homework#6–diode pumped LiF:F2- laser/
Homework 7 Due Nov.11
Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (8.15-8.16)
Spectroscopy of Common Lasers and Gas Lasers (Ch. 9.1-9.3 and class
material) Gas lasers (Ch. 9.4 -9.10) Homework 8 Due Nov 18
Gas lasers (Ch. 9.4 -9.10)
Molecular Gas lasers I (Ch. 10.1-10.5) Homework 9 Due Dec 2
Molecular Gas Lasers II (Ch. 11.1-11.8) and review for exam 3 (Ch. 11.111.8)
Thanksgiving - no classes held
Thanksgiving - no classes held
Exam 3 Over Chapters 8-11 Grades; Exam 3 Correct solution
Review for Final
FINAL EXAM Over Chapters 1-11 (4:15-6:45pm) in CH 394 Final
Grades