Laser physics, SK2411

7.5 ECTS points

Course description

Goal
The course is aiming at giving general understanding of lasers and laser components and their function in the laser. Furthermore to prepare students in atomic and molecular physics, quantum optics and physical optics for work in research and technology.

Course Objectives:
After the course the student should:
• Understand basic physical principles of light generation and amplification
• Relate the laser operation principles to the subjects of atom and molecular physics, solid state physics, quantum mechanics and physical optics
• Understand operational principles and construction of lasers
• Understand technological issues behind laser construction
• Describe properties of different types of lasers and their application areas.

Main content:
• Essentials of quantum-mechanical description of optical gain media, including atoms, molecules, and solid state materials.
• Essentials of quantum-mechanical description of the interaction between photons and electrons in optical gain media.
• Basic properties of lasers and photon amplifiers.
• Physical principles of laser action.
• Essential knowledge of laser building blocks.
• Overview of the most important laser types.

Lecturers and examiners
Valdas Pasiskevicius, Laser physics, KTH, Albanova, Roslagstullsbacken 21 (rum A3:1049), vp@laserphysics.kth.se, tel. 0731667475.

Max Yan, Photonik, KTH, Kista.miya@kth.se

Exercise assistant
Robert Lindberg, Albanova, room A3:1054, rolindbe@kth.se

Labs:
Fredrik Laurell, Albanova, room A3:1051, fl@laserphysics.kth.se

Kjell Mølster, Albanova, room A3:1054, moelster@kth.se

Patrick Mutter, Albanova, room A3:3009, pmutter@kth.se

Literature

Svelto, Orazio , Principles of Lasers, Fourth edition, or later (Translation by David. C. Hanna) Kluwer Academic/Plenum Press, Springer (1998 or later) ISBN 0-306-45748-2.Sold at the KTH bookstore. Also available from internet bookstores, e.g.

http://www.adlibris.com/se/product.aspx?isbn=1441913017

Language of instruction
English.

Prerequisites:
Courses in general physics, electromagnetic waves, quantum mechanics.

Recommended previous knowledge
Quantum mechanics, physical optics.

Course description
Lectures: 24 hours
Exercises: 12 hours

Laborations: Diode laser 2 hours, Diode-pumped solid-state laser 4 hours

Examination
Written exam. Grading: A/B/C/D/E/Fx/F
Lab reports. Grading: P/F

Grading scale A/B/C/D/E/Fx/F

Fysikexpeditionen
Alba Nova (Fysikcentrum), Roslagstullsbacken 21 (B5:1016).

Schedule 2019

Date, time	Activity	Location
16 January, 08-10	FRL	FB55
17 January, 08-10	FRL	FD41
20 January, 13-15	FRL	FB54
22 January, 10-12	OVN	FB54
23 January, 08-10	FRL	FA32
24 January, 13-15	FRL	FB54
29 January, 10-12	OVN	FB54
30 January, 08-10	FRL	FA32
03 February,13-15	FRL	FA32
05 February,10-12	OVN	FB54
06 February, 08-10	FRL	FA32
17 February, 13-15	OVN	FA32
19 February, 10-12	FRL	FB54
20 February, 08-10	FRL	FB54
26 February, 10-12	OVN	FA32
27 February, 08-10	FRL	FB54
02 March, 13-15	FRL	FB52
03 March, 08-10	OVN	FA32
11 March, 14-19	TEN
04 June, 08-13	Re-exam

Allowed exam aid
Sheet with formulas (provided by examiner), Lecture notes

Lecture contents
1	Ray and wave propagation, modes of electromagnetic field	Chap. 4
2	Optical resonators	Chap. 5
3	Properties of laser beams	Chap. 11
4	Introduction, background, history and applications. Interaction of radiation with atoms and ions	Chap. 1, 2
5	Essential spectroscopic characteristics of atomic and molecular media	Chap. 2, 3
6	Semiconductors as laser gain material	Chap. 3
7	Population inversion, pumping processes	Chap. 6
8	Continuous wave lasers	Chap. 7
9	Transient laser behavior, Q-switching, mode-locking	Chap. 8
10	Types of lasers: solid state, fiber, semiconductor	Chap. 9, 10
11	Transformation of laser radiation: Laser amplifiers. Introduction to nonlinear optics	Chap. 12
12	Types of lasers continued. Summary of the course

Lecture notes
Due to change in the course structure, the links to old notes have been removed as will be replaced with new ones as the course progresses.

Lecture Notes 1 (pdf 5.3 MB)

Lecture notes 2 (pdf 3.9 MB)

Lecture notes 3 (pdf 4.1 MB)

Lecture notes 4 (pdf 1.0 MB)

Lecture notes 5 (pdf 521 kB)

Lecture notes 6 (pdf 1.1 MB)

Lecture notes 7 (pdf 1.3 MB)

Lecture notes 8 (pdf 1.7 MB)

Lecture notes 9 (pdf 3.4 MB)

Lecture notes 10 (pdf 1.9 MB)

Lecture notes 11 (pdf 1023 kB)

Lecture notes 12 (pdf 2.1 MB)

Exercises
Problems will be from the course textbook and home-made. Links to solutions will be added as the course progresses. In addition to the solution a “guide” is provided, which gives hints for solving the tasks, without explicitly solving them.

Exercises (2016):

PhD students are required to prepare some tasks and hand in a solution before the actual exercise session. The problems to be prepared for the respective session are given in the “hand in” column. Solutions to those tasks are uploaded after the session they have been presented.

Questions? Email to rl@laserphysics.kth.se!

Session	Chapters	Problems/Examples	Hand in	Tasks	Solutions	Additional material
1)	1, 2	Pr. 1.3-7, 2.3, 2.7 Ex. 2.1, 2.4	None	session1 - tasks (pdf 134 kB) Extra Tasks 1 (pdf 258 kB)	session1-guide (pdf 22 kB) Session 1, Robert's solutions (pdf 1.9 MB)	details on task 1.5 and 1.6 (pdf 233 kB) details on task 1.7 (pdf 54 kB)

2)	3, 4	Pr. 3.7-10, 4.4, 4.8, 4.10, 4.13 Ex. 3.6-7, 4.3, 4.4	3.8, 4.10	session2 - tasks (pdf 662 kB)	Session 2 - Robert's solutions (pdf 2.7 MB)
3)	5, 11	Pr. 5.2, 5.8, 5.10, 5.13, 11.8, 11.9 Ex. 5.1, 5.5, 5.8	5.2, 11.9	session3- tasks (pdf 429 kB)	Session 3 - Robert's solutions (pdf 2.6 MB)	MATLAB script for TEM modes (m 3 kB)
4)	6, 7	Ex. 6.3, 7.2, 7.4, 7.6 Pr. 6.4, 6.8, 6.10, 7.5, 7.10	6.8, 7.5	session4- tasks (pdf 858 kB)	session4 - guide Session 4 - Robert's solutions (pdf 5.0 MB)	MATLAB script for task 7.10
5)	8, 12	Ex. 8.4, 8.7, 12.2 Pr. 8.1, 8.4, 8.10, 8.16-17, 12.2, 12.5	8.4, 12.2	session5- tasks (pdf 617 kB)	session5 - guide Session 5 - Robert's solutions (pdf 3.7 MB)
6)		Tasks from former exams (2008, 2009 and 2010)		session6-tasks	Short solutions and hints for old exams can be found further down the page. may08_exam_addendum may09_exam_addendum may10_exam_addendum task_guide_exams (all) Old exam, Robert's solutions (pdf 3.1 MB)	Old exams can be found further down on this page