Overview

ABOUT THE COURSE:The lectures will introduce different types of lasers invented and developed till now.. The underlying principles will be interwoven as the lectures progress. Some of the principles that will be covered are linear optics, non-linear optics, Stimulated emission,, population inversion, and optical resonators. Laser applications in Industry and medicine and other fields of science. Also an introduction to Ultrafast laser systems and attosecond physics.INTENDED AUDIENCE: Third year Graduate/ First year Post Graduate/ Fourth Year Engineering Graduate/ Course for PhD students.PREREQUISITES: Basics of Optics, Atomic & Molecular Physics, Solid state physics and Nuclear Physics.INDUSTRY SUPPORT: Medical Instrumentation industry. The heavy vehical / light vehical industry. The Aviation industry. The military / arms industry.

Syllabus

Week 1: Historical development of lasers. A scan of the Nobel prizes (related to Laser Science) won over the years. Different types of lasers invented till now. Overview of electromagnetic radiation and laser-matter interaction principles.Week 2:Basic principles of Laser operation: Stimulated emission, population inversion, optical resonators. Laser cavity design and components. Pumping mechanisms like electrical, chemical and optical. Atomic and Molecular Physics, Gain medium and Energy Levels.Week 3:Underlying principles and technology of Laser modes and mode-locking , Q-switching and cavity dumping. Laser components and systems.Week 4:Wave properties of light: Wave velocity, Phase velocity and group velocity. Transverse electromagnetic waves and polarized light. Particle nature of light and discrete energy levels. Radiative transitions and emission line width.Week 5:Medical applications like opthalmology, dermatology, and surgery.Applications in telecommunication defence and space. Application in LIDAR. Applications in manufacturing and industry. Application in scientific research like spectroscopy and particle acceleration. Application in entertainment and display. Use of lasers in cutting welding and drilling.Week 6:Basics of Non-Linear optics. Comparison of Linear optics and Nonlinear Optics. Fundamental concepts like nonlinear susceptibilities. Understanding the mechanisms behind second harmonic generation, sum frequency generation, difference frequency generation and parametric amplification.Week 7:Phenomenon in non-linear optics like self focusing, self phase modulation, four wave mixing optical solitons. Materials in non-linear optics, including crystals, organic materials and optical fibers. Optical parametric oscillators, frequency convertors and optical switches.Week 8:Introduction to High Peak Power Laser systems and Ultra short pulsed lasers. The technology of long laser chains and the discovery of chirped pulse amplification. Laser Emerging trends in Ultrafast lasers and attosecond physics.Week 9:Generation, characterization and manipulation of short laser pulses. Measurement techniques of ultra short pulsed lasers: Auto – correlation methods, Frequency resolved optical gating,Week 10:Time-domain measurement techniques and Frequency-domain measurement techniques of ultra short pulses.Week 11:Basic Laser Spectroscopy like absorption and emission spectra. Interaction of light with matter and some experimental techniques.Week 12:The futuristic use of lasers in generating energy from fusion. The efforts that have been put in till now and its future direction.