PHYS425 INTRODUCTION TO LASER PHYSICS
| Course Code: | 2300425 |
| 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: | Prof.Dr. HAKAN ALTAN |
| Offered Semester: | Fall and Spring Semesters. |
Course Objectives
Introduction to Laser physics will focus on the physical principles which are important in understanding the behavior of laser light. How is it generated? How is it distributed in time and space? At the end of this course you will have a better understanding of the following topics:
- Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, Spontaneous Emission and Stimulated Absorption
- Basic understanding of gain, loss, CW and Pulsed mode Operation
- Gaussian beam solution to the wave equation and properties of gaussian beams
- Resonators and gaussian beams
- Different types of lasers
The information you will learn in this course will form a basis upon which you will build up new blocks in the future.
Course Content
Basic principles of laser light; properties of laser and physical background of production; laser resonators, mirrors and modes; the types of lasers; solid-state lasers, gas lasers, liquid lasers, semiconductor lasers and lasers to come.
Course Learning Outcomes
Student, who passed the course satisfactorily will be able to:
- Understand what stimulated emission, absorption and spontaneous emission is
- Understand what the limits of operation of laser systems are
- Understand what is meant by CW and pulsed lasers
- Understand how to formulate the gaussian solution to the wave equation
- Understand why gaussian beams are so important in laser physics
- Describe how a gaussian beam propogates inside the resonator as well as in free space
- Describe how different types of lasers work
Program Outcomes Matrix
| Level of Contribution | |||||
| # | Program Outcomes | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| 1 | Can understand, model and analyze the fundamental physical processes of nature. | ✔ | |||
| 2 | Can suggest mathematical models to problems they face and solve them by various (approximate/analytical/numerical) approaches. | ✔ | |||
| 3 | Can use basic measurement devices; can choose and apply the best measurement technique. | ✔ | |||
| 4 | Can adequately record their observations, e.g., in a lab book. | ✔ | |||
| 5 | Can design and carry out experiments. | ✔ | |||
| 6 | Can access scientific information sources. | ✔ | |||
| 7 | Can critically analyze and contribute to scientific information. | ✔ | |||
| 8 | Can present scientific information clearly. | ✔ | |||
| 9 | Can analyze systems that contain probabilistic parts; can do error analysis. | ✔ | |||
| 10 | Has the basic programming skills; can solve a simple physical problem or can simulate one with an appropriate language they choose. | ✔ | |||
| 11 | Can actively and skillfully conceptualize, apply, analyze, synthesize and evaluate information. | ✔ | |||
| 12 | Can produce new ideas and products by using their background in physics. | ✔ | |||
| 13 | Can systematically design, evaluate, and implement a strategy to respond to an existing problem. | ✔ | |||
| 14 | Is effective in oral and written communication skills by using both Turkish and English languages. | ✔ | |||
| 15 | Can do leadership and take initiative. | ✔ | |||
| 16 | Tries to find physics based solutions to the problems of the world that we live in. | ✔ | |||
| 17 | Obeys the ethical rules in the workplace and the society and ascertains that they are obeyed by others. | ✔ | |||
| 18 | Can use the digital communication and computation tools in the most efficient and effective way. | ✔ | |||
| 19 | Can 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