FISICA DEI LASER
Basic notions of electromagnetism and quantum physics.
The student should be able to give a physical explanation of the laser dynamics, and should be able to describe how a laser works in different regimes.
-Introduction, spontaneous and stimulated emission, pumping schemes and laser properties
-Radiation-matter interaction: black body theory, spontaneous emission, absorption and stimulated emission, Line broadening mechanisms, non-radiative decay.
-Energy levels, radiative and non-radiative transitions in molecules and semiconductors
-Passive optical resonators
-Pumping processes
-Laser behaviour in continuous regime, Rate equations, 4 level laser and 3 level laser.
-Transient behaviour of the laser: Q-switching, gain switching, model-locking and methods of mode-locking
-Examples of lasers: solid state lasers, dye lasers, semiconductor lasers, gas lasers
-Laser beam properties
-Transformation of laser beams: propagation, amplification, frequency conversion, pulse compression and pulse expansion.
-Examples of laser applications
Lectures will be held in classroom.
Principles of lasers, Orazio Svelto, IV edition
(Few lectures will be based on the book “Quantum Electronics” by Yariv, III edition)