Optics and lasers

Teacher(s)

Lauzin Clément;

Language

English

Prerequisites

LPHYS1221 for the students enrolled in the Bachelor in physics who wish to follow this teaching unit within the additional module in physics.

Main themes

Basic teaching unit, giving a description of all aspects of general optics and an introduction to laser physics.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this learning unit, the student is able to :
1	a.     Contribution of the teaching unit to the learning outcomes of the programme (PHYS2M and PHYS2M1) AA 1.1, AA 1.2, AA 1.3, AA 1.4, AA 1.5, AA 1.6, AA 2.1, AA 2.2 b.    Specific learning outcomes of the teaching unit At the end of this teaching unit, the student will be able to: 1.     understand basic principles of optics used for example in beamsplitters, multidielectric mirrors or filters, gratings, interferometers, optical devices ; 2.     use Fourier optics to solve problems of diffraction ; 3.     measure temporal of spatial coherence of light sources ; 4.     calculate the propagation of Gaussian laser beams ; 5.     recognize the necessary conditions to build a continuous-wave laser

Content

The teaching unit is structured as follows:
1.     General optics : decomposition in plane waves, polarization, linear interaction with matter, refraction, Fresnel laws, geometrical optics, imaging systems, Jones matrices, interferences, diffraction, temporal and spatial coherence, Fourier optics;
2.     Lasers physics and basic properties of lasers : amplifying medium, laser cavity, Q-Switch, propagation of Gaussian beams.

Teaching methods

Ex-cathedra and 5 experimental laboratories.

Evaluation methods

Written : problems to solve and questions about the theory

Bibliography

E. Hecht, Optics, Addison-Wesley (2016).
ISBN-10: 0133977226

Faculty or entity

PHYS