Credits: 5. Grading scale: TH. Optional for: F3, N4, Pi4. Course coordinator: Anne L´Huillier, anne.lhuillier@fysik.lth.se, Fysik, kurslaboratoriet. Recommended prerequisites: Participation in basic courses in physics and mathematics. Assessment: Written examination, laboratory reports. Homepage: http://www-atom.fysik.lth.se/kurser/FLaserfysik/index.htm.

Aim
The course presents the physical principles of lasers. The students will be exposed to a few common lasers and learn to do simple alignments and measurements with lasers. They will learn how to calculate conditions for lasing as well as propagation of a laser beam through optical components.

Besides the basics of laser physics, the course aims at showing to the student that the coupling between atomic physics and optics leads to interesting physics with numerous applications.

Contents

• Absorption, stimulated and spontaneous emission. Line broadening.

• Repetition of geometrical optics, ray-matrix formulation, Fabry-Perot interferometer.

• Repetition of diffraction. Gaussian beams.Optical resonators.

• Continuous-wave laser operation.

• Transient laser operation. Q-switching, mode-locking.

• Propagation of short pulses. Amplification.

• Laser beam properties (coherence, brightness)

Literature
Svelto, O: Principles of Lasers, Plenum Press, third edition.
Laboratory Instructions.