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525.753 - Laser Systems and Applications Course Homepage

Instructor Information

Isaac Bankman

Email: isaac.bankman@jhuapl.edu
Work Phone: (443) 778-6097

Michael Thomas

Email: michael.e.thomas@jhuapl.edu
Work Phone: (443) 778-4414

Course Information

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive treatment of the generation of laser light, its properties, and applications. Topics include specific laser systems and pumping mechanisms, nonlinear optics, temporal and spatial coherence, guided beams, interferometric and holographic measurements, and remote sensing.

Prerequisites

525.425 Laser Fundamentals.

Course Goal

To introduce the student to pulsed lasers, nonlinear optics, laser design, specific laser systems, the general properties of laser light and applications.

Course Objectives

  • Cover pulsed lasers
  • Laser engineering
  • Laser applications
  • Nonlinear optics

When This Course is Typically Offered

Spring odd years

Syllabus

Topics Covered

  • Multimode and Transient Oscillation. Pulsed laser operation is discussed including Q-switching and gain switching
  • Mode locking, and ultrashort pulses, Introduction to Nonlinear Optics. Nonlinear materials
  • Second harmonic generation and optical parametric oscillation.
  • Specific Lasers and Pumping Mechanisms. Solid-state rare-earth ion lasers, dye lasers, gas lasers, excimer lasers, metal vapor lasers are presented. Pumping mechanism include optical, electron impact, gas-dynamic, chemical and electrical. Laser design prob
  • Specific Lasers and Pumping Mechanisms. Solid-state rare-earth ion lasers, dye lasers, gas lasers, excimer lasers, metal vapor lasers are presented. Pumping mechanism include optical, electron impact, gas-dynamic, chemical and electrical. Laser design prob
  • Laser design project, laser design examples
  • Design review. Midterm
  • Rigrod analysis, Gaussian beams, transverse modes
  • Properties of transverse modes, unstable resonators, ray matrices
  • Laser pulse shortening, ring lasers, spectral narrowing, fiberoptics
  • Interference and interferometry, heterodyne detection, diffraction, Fourier optics
  • Laser radar and holography
  • Light-matter interaction, laser safety
  • Design review, Final

Student Assessment Criteria

Homework 34%
Midterm 33%
Final 33%

Homework is considered practice and is graded more on effort.  It is important that student attempt all problems and submit homework in a timely fashion.

Participation Expectations

There is a laser design project that students will team together to solve.

Textbooks

Textbook information for this course is available online through the MBS Direct Virtual Bookstore.

Course Notes

There are notes for this course.

(Last Modified: 01-18-2009 at 2:58:13 PM)