Lasers

                       PH2502: Lasers -- General Information
                                       
                                      
   
   Overview 
          
          This course, taught by Professor Quimby of the physics 
          department, serves as an introduction to lasers for upperclass 
          undergraduates. The emphasis is on understanding the physical 
          principles underlying lasers and their applications. Topics 
          include: 
          
          + What makes laser light different (Coherent vs Incoherent
            Light)
          + Optical cavities
          + Gaussian beam optics
          + Semiclassical treatment of atomic radiation
          + Laser oscillation conditions
          + Optical amplification (including fiber amplifiers)
          + Q switching and mode locking (pulsed lasers)
          + Optical and electrical pumping mechanisms
            
          There is a brief discussion of some of the above topics in the
          Photonics course PH2501, but the Lasers course PH2502 goes
          into much more detail.  Lasers have gone from being a "solution
          in search of a problem" to an important component of modern
          technology. Applications for lasers have been found in
          metrology, materials processing, optical communications,
          biology and medicine, data storage, and the entertainment 
          industry, to name just a few examples. Because of the 
          interdisciplinary nature of the course, it may be of interest to 
          those students pursuing a minor in physics. 
          
   Recommended Background
          It is expected that students have taken at least PH1110 and
          PH1120, or their equivalents. It is also helpful (but not
          essential) if students have taken PH1130 and PH1140, so they
          are familiar with concepts such as photons, standing wave
          patterns, etc. These concepts will be reviewed briefly during
          the lectures, for the benefit of those students having less
          preparation. Very little quantum mechanics will be used in the
          course -- in fact it is remarkable how much of laser physics
          can be understood without any quantum mechanics. This is
          somewhat ironic, since at the most fundamental level the laser
          is an inherently quantum device. The mathematical level of the
          course is rather modest, involving mostly algebra, trigonometry, 
          and geometry, with some simple integration, differentiation, and 
          first order differential equations. The intention is to keep it 
          at a level where it is accessible to non-physics majors. This 
          course may be of interest to students in Electrical and Computer 
          Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering, as 
          well as Physics. 
          
   Textbook
          The text for this year will be:
          
          + Photonics and Lasers: an Introduction
            by R.S. Quimby (Wiley, 2006)
          
            The book contains much more material than can be covered in a 
            7-week term. In this introductory course, we will concentrate 
            on the simpler, more fundamental topics, leaving the more 
            advanced topics for future study by the interested student.  
            The study guides will map out in detail the sections of the 
            book to be browsed, read quickly, or studied carefully.  
            
   Evaluations 
          
          There will be three in-class exams during the term, which will 
          count for 70% of the grade. Homework will be collected periodically,
          and will count for 20% of the grade.  The remaining 10% of the grade
          represents class participation. Students using the course as the Capstone 
          for a Physics Minor will write a term paper on a topic relating to   
          lasers, and this will count for 20% of the grade, with exams/homework/
          /class participation together counting for 80% of the grade. 
          
          
   Course Web Site
          Much additional information pertaining to the course will be located
          on the course web site:
          http://www.wpi.edu/Academics/Depts/Physics/Courses/laser/
                    
          For questions, contact Prof. Quimby by email at rsquimby@wpi.edu, 
          or stop by Olin 128.