Laser is recognized as one of the top technological achievements of 20th century and there are few areas in technology that are not influenced by it. It plays an important role in, medicine, industry, and entertainment has resulted in fiber-optic communication, CDs, CD-ROMs, and DVDs. Without lasers there would be no supermarket bar code readers, certain life-saving cancer treatments, or precise navigation techniques for commercial aircraft. Laser is acronym of Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. Laser is a source of light but it is different from other light sources. Laser makes a high intensity and extremely directional beam which has a narrow frequency range. Lasers are more used as a strong electromagnetic beam than a light beam.

Learning Outcomes:    At the end of this course, students should be able to:

1. Explain the operational principles and construction of lasers

2. Describe optical components that can be used to tailor the properties of the laser

3. Distinguish between the different optical cavities/resonators.

4. Describe the conditions of producing a laser beam.

5. Describe how pulsed laser beams can be obtained from a laser cavity.

6. Understand the laser applications in daily life.

Contents:

1. Introduction to Lasers

2. Properties of laser beam

3. Electromagnetic waves and photons

4. Energy levels, Transition and spectral lines, The metastable level

5. Spontaneous and Stimulated emission, Stimulated Absorption

6. Line shape function

7. Black-Body Radiation

8. Relation between Einstein A and B Coefficients

9. Conditions for large stimulated emissions

10. Gain coefficient and threshold Gain coefficient

11. Line-broadening mechanism

12. Population inversion

13. The three and four-level system

14. Rate equations

15. Optical resonators

16. Conditions for steady state oscillation in a two mirror Resonator

17. Cavity resonance frequencies

18. Longitudinal and Transverse modes in a cavity

19. Pumping Process, Pulsed vs Continuous emission

20. Threshold condition and output power

21. Optimum output coupling

22. Laser tuning

23. Oscillation and pulsations in lasers

24. Q-Switching and mode-locking methods

25. Phase velocity and Group Velocity

26. Dispersion and Pulse Width

27. Non-linear crystals

28. Solid state lasers: Ruby Laser, Nd:YAG and Nd:Glass lasers

29. Semiconductor lasers: Homojunction lasers, Double Hetrostructure lasers

30. Gass Lasers: Helium Neon laser, CO2 laser, Nitrogen laser and Excimer laser

31. Free-Electro and X-ray lasers

32. Laser Applications.

Recommended Books

1. Laser Fundamentals by W. T. Silfvast, Cambridge University press, (2003).

2. Understanding lasers b y J. Hecht, Howard W. Sams & Company, USA (1988).

3. Lasers by P. W. Milonni and J. Eberly, Wiley, New York. (2010).

4. An Introduction to Lasers by M. N. Avadhanulu, S. Chand & company (2001).

5. Laser Fundamentals by W. T. Silfvast, Cambridge University press, (2003).

6. Understanding lasers b y J. Hecht, Howard W. Sams & Company, USA (1988).

7. Lasers by P. W. Milonni and J. Eberly, Wiley, New York. (2010).

8. An Introduction to Lasers by M. N. Avadhanulu, S. Chand & company (2001).

ASSESSMENT CRITERIA

• Sessional: 20 (Presentation / Assignment 10, Attendance 05, Quiz 05)

• Mid-Term Exam: 30

• Final-Term Exam: 50

Time of Class Meeting

• BS 8th Reg       Wednesday  to Friday   (10:00 am to 11:00 am)

• BS 8th SS         Wednesday                   (3:30 pm to 4:30 pm)

                                    Thursday                        (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm)

                                     Friday                            (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm)

• BS 8th Ex ppp   Wednesday                   ( 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm)

                                     Thursday                       (2:30 pm to 3:30 pm)

                                     Friday                            (11:00 am to 12:00 pm)

Commencement of Classes                                                   January 13, 2020

Mid Term Examination                                                            March 16 to March 23, 2020

Final Term Examination                                                          May 11-15, 2020

Declaration of Result                                                              May 22, 2020