Laser Physics and applications PH5814

Description: Characteristics of laser radiation: Coherence and brightness, Einstein’s coefficients, rate equations, Gain coefficient, 3, 4- level lasers, Threshold gain, Creation and annihilation operators.

Course Content: Characteristics of laser radiation: Coherence and brightness, Einstein’s coefficients, rate equations, Gain coefficient, 3, 4- level lasers, Threshold gain, Creation and annihilation operators. Modes of oscillation: transverse and longitudinal, spectral line shapes and line broadening mechanisms, applications in frequency stabilization Gaussian Beams: Stability conditions, Rayleigh Range, confocal parameter Typical laser systems: Gas (He-Ne, He-Cd, Argon, CO2, Excimer), Solid (Ruby, Nd:YAG, Ti:Saphire), Fibe lasers, semiconductor, free-electron lasers; Uniqueness and their applications. Q-switching and modelocking: applications in spectroscopy, two-photon spectroscopy and nonlinear optics, laser frequency comb, optical clock. General Applications: Laser holography: holographic storage, non-destructive testing, optical disk storage, Laser metrology: laser gyro, LIDAR and atmospheric applications, laser trapping and manipulations (tweezers). Lasers in material science, pulsed laser deposition, plasma generation, micromachining and bio-applications.

Text Books: Laser fundamentals, W. T. Silfvast, Cambridge University Press, (1998). Quantum Electronics, A. Yariv, John Wiley (1975). Lasers: Principle and Applications; J Wilson and J.F.B. Hawkes; Prentice Hall (1987)

Reference Books: Lasers, A. E. Siegman, University Science Books (1986)Fundamentals of photonics, B. E. A. Saleh, M. C. Teich, John Wiley (2007).Laser Physics, P. W. Milonni, J. H. Eberly, John Wiley (2010).Few cycle laser pulse generation and its applications, Franz Kartner (Ed), Springer (2004).