Class Notes in PDF Format - about 532K.
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PHYSICS 350U - Light and Lasers - Dr. Gary Copeland - Spring 2008 Last Update: 01/11/08
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Class Notes in PDF Format - about 532K. Occasional
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| Contents |
| Philosophy |
| University Catalog Entry |
| Directions for Term Paper |
| Course Description |
| Course Outline |
Physics 350U "Light and Lasers" applies many of the principles of physics that are generally introduced in a first year college physics course. We study in detail the electromagnetic spectrum and ways in which light may be generated in a coherent manner, e.g. the laser. Subject areas from mechanics, thermodynamics, electricity and magnetism, and optics are all utilized and extended beyond the introductory course coverage. Additional material from modern physics, especially quantum mechanics and atomic theory, are introduced to cover those details of laser media that are fundamentally quantum mechanical in nature. The minimum prerequisite for entry into this course is the satisfactory completion of a year long course in physics either Physics 111N - 112N or Physics 231N - 232N. Since this is a 300 (junior) level course, the student is expect to have reached a corresponding maturity in development. The instructor of this course will at the beginning of each term survey all entering students to insure that prerequisites have been satisfied.
The majority of the subjects covered in this course are in a real sense the fruit of the twentieth century's technological advances. Basically the course involves a study of the details of how different types of lasers are built, the physical principles that are the basis of their operation, coupled with discussions of the physics behind numerous examples of the use of lasers in a modern technologically based society.
The lecture-demonstration model of instruction is the method of presentation used in this course. This is appropriate since many principles of optics may be easily demonstrated before large audiences. Use of this method is recognized as a teaching strategy that is known to significantly enhance the retention of knowledge and to "make real" many abstract physical concepts.
Additional written work involves the generation of a term paper on a subject that is selected from a list of laser or optical methods with an application from an area of the student's major, e.g. a computer science major might select to write a term paper from subjects such as: holographic storage methods, laser printers, optical computing techniques, etc. The mature student must do considerable library research dealing with state-of-the art technological problems. Much of this material in so recent as not be the subjects of books, but are instead found in technical journals.
350U. Light and Lasers. Lecture and demonstrations 3 hours; 3 credits. Prerequisite: PHYS 112N or 232N. Investigation of the physical principles behind the development of modern optics. An analysis of those concepts of geometrical and physical optics needed for the understanding of laser resonators, optical propagation and radiation detection. A study of the physics of population inversion in various media. Application to laser diodes, molecular, neutral and ion gas lasers, tuneable dye, excimer and diode lasers. Laser applications in medicine, communications, information processing, holography, pollution detection, and material testing and fabrication are stressed.
Directions For The Term
Paper.
Subject:
Each of you will have a different topic. Give careful thought to your selection. Try to relate it to your academic major or to your own interests. This paper must be your own work and reflect your thoughts and research. It should demonstrate that you have an understanding of the physics behind the topic you select.
Later in the term ( See the Course Schedule), you are to hand in a 3x5 card that contains the following information (Printed or typed):
Name (Last, First MI)Please try to be specific and to not pick too general of a topic. I will give you permission to proceed with a subject at an early date. Assume that your first choice will be selected.
Format:
The paper will be typed and double spaced. The paper will have a separate title page that contains the information that was on the 3x5 card. You should also include the name of the course, etc. on the title page. Please use the literature and name your sources. Don't use footnotes. Instead refer to a publication as (Ref. 1) and have a reference list as the last section of the paper. Follow any standard format as accepted by a juried publication. Make liberal use of diagrams, charts, calculations, etc. to illustrate your points. These may be xerox copies that are glued or taped in place. If Greek or mathematical symbols are required, just write them in black ink if your word processor does not support equations - most do. Don't quote the material presented in class, i.e., don't say Dr. Copeland says so! Demonstrate that you understand the physics of the problem.
1. G. E. Copeland, "The Lifetimes of Excited stastes in the B' state of OH", Phys. Rev. A. 123, 1323-1345 (1998).
Cover the subject in a reasonable manner, but don't hand in 30 pages. A well written paper usually defines the subject carefully, has an introduction, a body and a conclusion. A due date will be announced. No-time-extensions will be granted. This paper will be a major component of the final grade.
After you are given permission to proceed with
the writing of the paper, you MUST hand in a rough draft of the paper.( See
Course Calendar). That will NOT count as a grade, but will be examined as to
format, spelling, content, clarity, etc. This will enable you to proceed in an
orderly manner, after the pre-paper is handed back.
Course
Description:
Below is a listing of some topics that we will discuss. Some of these topics you may have already hadan introduction in a previous physics course, and if this is generally true for the class as a whole, we will not spend a great deal of time on them. Fundamentally, Light and Lasers will be a course that describes the various types and kinds of lasers in order to give you an idea of the physical principles behind lasers. Since many lasers operate in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, we will begin the course with the rudiments of geometrical optics.
There are several types of lasers that are in common use today. We will describe the various types and how they work. After this introduction to laser physics, we will spend most of the semester on the various uses of lasers in science, industry and society today and as well as those uses projected for application in the future. Laser Physics in a subset of a more general field variously called Quantum Electronics or Non-linear Optics and during the last 20 years its impact on society has been enormous. There are at least two trade journals, Laser Focus and Photonic Spectra, that describe the current state of laser applications. Both of these journals are in the University Library, and I would suggest that they will make good reading for the educated layman and are excellent sources for term paper topics. . Complete collections are available in the departmental archeives. Seer Dr. Copeland.
Required Texts:
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