PHYS426 LASERS AND THEIR APPLICATIONS

Course Code:2300426
METU Credit (Theoretical-Laboratory hours/week):3 (3.00 - 0.00)
ECTS Credit:5.0
Department:Physics
Language of Instruction:English
Level of Study:Undergraduate
Course Coordinator:
Offered Semester:Once in several years.

Course Objectives

Lasers and Their Applications will teach you fundamental concepts and tools that will be necessary for a better understanding of how lasers are used in many applications areas such as, industry, medicine, defense and telecommunications. At the end of this course you will have a better understanding of the following topics:

  • Pulsed and CW lasers
  • Spectroscopy using lasers
  • Imaging using lasers
  • Material processing using lasers

The information you will learn in this course will form a basis upon which you will build up new blocks in the future. The topics above are broad and cannot be covered in a one semester course so we will focus on specific examples which will aid your understanding of the subject matter.


Course Content

Laser principles and properties; laser spectroscopy; measurement with laser; isotope separation with laser; laser fusion; LIDAR; laser communications; laser as a heat source; holography.


Course Learning Outcomes

Student, who passed the course satisfactorily will be able to:

  • learn what are the fundamental prarameters of CW and Pulsed lasers which make them so attractive in many applications
  • learn how these fundamental parameters depend on physical properties of the laser
  • learn modulation techniques such as electro- and acousto-optic modulation
  • learn the fundamental parameters important to Q-switched and mode-locked lasers
  • learn spectroscopy techniques such as Doppler Free Spectroscopy, Absorption Spectroscopy, Fluorescence Spectroscopy and Raman Spectroscopy
  • learn advanced spectrsocopy techniques such as optical frequency combs
  • learn imaging applications such as Speckle Imaging, LIDAR, Holography, and Confocal Imaging
  • learn about how lasers are used in communications such as fiber optic communications, free space communications
  • learn about spatial and position based measurements techniques using lasers such as gyroscopes

Program Outcomes Matrix

Level of Contribution
#Program Outcomes0123
1Can understand, model and analyze the fundamental physical processes of nature.
2Can suggest mathematical models to problems they face and solve them by various (approximate/analytical/numerical) approaches.
3Can use basic measurement devices; can choose and apply the best measurement technique.
4Can adequately record their observations, e.g., in a lab book.
5Can design and carry out experiments.
6Can access scientific information sources.
7Can critically analyze and contribute to scientific information.
8Can present scientific information clearly.
9Can analyze systems that contain probabilistic parts; can do error analysis.
10Has the basic programming skills; can solve a simple physical problem or can simulate one with an appropriate language they choose.
11Can actively and skillfully conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information.
12Can produce new ideas and products by using their background in physics.
13Can systematically design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to respond to an existing problem.
14Is effective in oral and written communication skills by using both Turkish and English languages.
15Can do leadership and take initiative.
16Tries to find physics based solutions to the problems of the world that we live in.
17Obeys the ethical rules in the workplace and the society and ascertains that they are obeyed by others.
18Can use the digital communication and computation tools in the most efficient and effective way.
19Can effectively use the knowledge and skills they gained in physics, in observing, analyzing, modeling and solving other societal problems.

0: No Contribution 1: Little Contribution 2: Partial Contribution 3: Full Contribution