Courses Catalogue

Syllabus of the course: Quantum Electronics I - Theory and Technology of Laser


In this web page we provide the syllabus of the course Quantum Electronics I - Theory and Technology of Laser, offered by the Department of Physics.
The list of the courses offered during the current accademic year is available here.
The list of all courses offered by the Department of Physics is available here.

CodeΦ-665
TypeB
ECTS6
Hours6
SemesterWinter
InstructorD. Charalambidis
ProgramTuesday, 14:00-16:00, 1st floor seminar room
Thursday, 15:00-17:00, 1st floor seminar room
Friday, 12:00-14:00, 1st floor seminar room
Web page
Goal of the courseThe course is an introduction to the theory and technology of lasers and is a compulsory course of the Photonics and Nonoelectronics postgraduate program.
SyllabusIntroduction
Introduction to the laser-Course content-The laser as a light source

Statistical Optics
Statistical quantities in optics, Theory of optical coherence, Temporal coherence (Temporal coherence function, degree of temporal coherence, Wiener Khinchin Theorem), Spatial coherence, Interferometry.

About Photons
The photon, Photon optics, Photon statistics, Quantum states of light

Geometrical optics
Propagation matrix, Propagation in optical cavities, Linear optics in non homogeneous continuous (diffractive) optical media

Gaussian beams (wave optics)
Gaussian beams in cavities, TEM00, ABCD law of Gaussian beams, Higher order modes TEMmn

Resonant optical cavities
Resonance, Resonance width, Q-factor, Finesse, photon life time, Resonance of the Hermite-Gauss modes, Cavity with gain

Light-matter interaction
The Einstein atom, The Hertz atom, The Schrödinger atom, The Rabi atom, Density matrix, Line broadening.

Laser oscillation and amplification
Amplification-gain, Threshold condition, Laser oscillation and amplification in a homogeneous broadened transition, Laser oscillation in an inhomogeneous system, Laser oscillation from the point of view of photons.

Types of lasers
Atomic-molecular gas lasers, Ion lasers, Solid state lasers, Excimer lasers, semiconductor lasers, Pulsed lasers, Generation of giant pulses, Generation of ultra-short pulses, Q-switching, Mode-locking (passive-active).
Bibliography Laser Electronics, J. T Verdeyen, Prentice Hall Series
Quantum Theory of Light, R. Loudon, Oxford Sc. Publ.
Physics of Atoms and Molecules, B.H. Bransden-C.J. Joachain, Longman Scientific & Technical

University of Crete - Department of Physics  - Voutes University Campus - GR-70013 Heraklion, Greece
phone: +30 2810 394300 - email: chair@physics.uoc.gr