Laser Physics and Technology

The student will acquire knowledge on:

• ABCD Matrix
• Gaussian beams
• Optical cavities
• Blackbody radiation
• Einstein coefficients and gain coefficients
• Line broadening and laser linewidth
• Photon rate equations
• Ultrashort light pulses
• Specific modern lasers and their working principles
• Laser properties
• Laser applications

The student will be able to:

• Use the ABCD matrix formalism to calculate Gaussian beam propagation
• Determine the stability of a cavity
• Calculate Gaussian beam propagation and diffraction
• Conduct photon counting, incl. noise considerations
• Formulate photon rate equations for intensities and populations
• Describe two-, three- and four-Level laser schemes
• Estimate gain and optimal output coupling
• Derive expressions for the refractive index and absorption and gain coefficients of atomic medium
• Determine laser linewidth and describe methods of obtaining single mode operation
• Understand the basics of coherent effects in laser-atom interactions
• Understand the difference between continuous (CW) and pulsed lasers

The student is able to:

• Understand the components, working principle, properties, and applications of lasers
• Understand the critical laser parameters important for their use in various real-world applications
• Conduct optical experiments with lasers, involving measurement of beam sizes and focusing of laser beams

Theoretical and practical topics of laser physics and its application:

• ABCD matrix and Gaussian beams
• Laser cavities
• Blackbody radiation
• Atomic processes and Einstein coefficients
• Line broadening
• Principles of laser operation: gain, threshold, power, and frequency
• Mode selection
• Pulsed lasing
• Specific lasers
• Applications of lasers: quantum optics, quantum technologies, telecommunications, industrial material processing, sensing, biomedicine, imaging, ranging and automobile industry.
• Laboratory experiments with lasers