Course Objectives This course is meant to introduce the fundamentals of lasers in both physics and engineering aspects. In this course, you will first learn the basic concept and theory of lasers, then the working principles of lasers, and finally the behavior and properties of lasers. You are recommended to take this course if you have accomplished the courses “Electromagnetic fields and waves” and “Modern physics” or have equivalent background knowledge.

Prerequisite

Textbook Textbook
“Laser Physics”, by Simon Hooker and Colin Webb, Oxford University Press (New York, 2010).

Reference Books
1. “Principles of lasers”, by Orazio Svelto, 5th Ed. (Springer-Verlage, New York, 2010).
2. “Lasers”, by A. E. Siegman, Mill Valley (California, 1986).
3. “Quantum Mechanics”, by A. Messiah, North-Holland Pub. (Amsterdam, 1962)
4. “Solid-State Laser Engineering”, by W. Koechner, Vol.1 Springer Series in Optical Sciences (Springer-Verlage, New York, 1988).

Topical Outline 1. Introductory concept
2. Interaction of radiation and matter
a. Electromagnetic radiation in a closed cavity
b. Planck’s law
c. The Einstein treatment
d. Conditions for optical gain
e. The semi-classical treatment
f. Atomic population kinetics
3. Broadening mechanisms and lineshapes
a. Homogeneous broadening mechanisms
b. Inhomogeneous broadening mechanisms
c. The interaction of radiation and matter in the presence of spectral broadening
d. The formation of spectral lines
e. Other broadening effects
4. Light amplification by the stimulated emission of radiation
a. The optical gain cross-section
b. Narrowband radiation
c. Gain cross-section for inhomogeneous broadening
d. Absorption
5. Gain saturation
a. Saturation in a steady-state amplifier
b. Saturation in a homogeneously broadened pulsed amplifier
c. Design of laser amplifiers
6. The laser oscillator
a. Amplified spontaneous emission (ASE) lasers
b. Optical cavities
c. Beam quality
d. The approach to laser oscillation
e. Laser oscillation above threshold
f. Output power
7. Solid-state lasers
a. General considerations
b. Nd3+:YAG and other trivalent rare-earth systems
c. Ruby and other trivalent iron-group systems
8. Dynamic cavity effects
a. Laser spiking and relaxation oscillations
b. Q-switching
c. Modelocking
d. Other forms of pulsed output
9. Type of lasers
Semiconductor lasers, Fiber lasers, Gas lasers, etc.