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Laser Optics

General

Prefix

PHYS

Course Number

435

Course Level

Undergraduate

Department/Unit(s)

College/School

College of Science and Engineering

Description

The interaction of light with matter including conditions for laser gain and oscillation, resonance cavities, and Gaussian beams. Examples of laser systems and applications. Lab. Prereq.: PHYS 333.

Prerequisites

Credits

Min

3

Max

3

Repeatable

No

Goals and Diversity

MN Goal Course

No

Cultural Diversity

No

Learning Outcomes

Outcome

Apply principles of laser safety to decide practical laboratory choices for ethical and safe use of lasers including specification of safety controls, calculation of maximum permissible exposure, and calculation of optical density for laser goggles.

Outcome

Forecast and stipulate properties of light in optical beams such as power, beam width, intensity, and beam quality.

Outcome

Apply laser beams in the laboratory to achieve practical industry and science objectives.

Outcome

Specify key quantitative parameters for sensors addressing response and noise and use those parameters to correctly interpret and analyze optical radiation in practical laboratory and industry applications.

Outcome

Mathematically analyze and predict laser beam propagation using Gaussian, optical matrix, and diffractive methods.

Outcome

Solve basic analytical physics and engineering problems based on fundamental theories of operation of laser oscillators and amplifiers.

Course Outline

Course Outline

Laser safety. 5% Physical optics of lasers, radiation, and spectra. 15% Basic laser physics: oscillation, gain, rate equations, saturation, modes. 15% Advanced laser physics: polarization, pulse formation, matrices. 10% Incoherent electromagnetic radiation sources. 10% Optical beams: Gaussian beams, radiometry, propagation through media. 15% Laser applications in physics, industry, and engineering. 20% Laser applications for and physics of optical sensors and detectors. 10%

Dependencies

Programs

PHYS435 is a completion requirement for: