LASERS (4SP)

ACADEMIC YEAR: 2013-2014

Teachers
G. Morthier (UGent, Department INTEC, tel: 09 2648934 , email: morthier@intec.ugent.be)
N. Vermeulen (VUBrussel, Department TONA, tel: 02 4774869, email: nvermeul@vub.ac.be)

Goal of the course

This course aims at teaching the basic concepts of lasers and at providing insight in the operation
and the applications of different laser types. The manipulation of laser beams, i.e. how to
transform a given laser beam so that it gets the desired properties, is also an important part of the
course.

Theory classes
Content

1. Introduction to lasers: general introduction and principle of laser action. General

properties of laser light.
2. Laser theory: Description of laser operation using rate equations; Continuous-wave
laser operation; Pulsed laser operation
3. Laser resonators: Confocal resonators; Non-confocal resonators; Waveguide
resonators
4. Laser beams: Gaussian beams and their propagation; Multimode beams
5. Laser types: Gas-, fluid-, solid state lasers
6. Semiconductor lasers: Material aspects, Operation principles, Dynamics and noise
7. Semiconductor lasers: overview of types (DFB, DBR, VCSEL, tunable lasers,…)

Course material
Copies of transparencies used in the lectures, provided with comments, are put on Minerva. A
copy of the course notes can also be bought through VTK.
A useful reference work is O. Svelto, Principles of Lasers (4th Edition), Plenum Press, New
York.

Place and time of the lectures

The theory classes are taught every Tuesday from 10u00 to 11u15 in the Plateaustraat
(auditorium C from 10h to 11h15, starting on 25 October 2012. The exercise classes take place
on Tuesday from 11u30 to 12u45, also in auditorium C. After consultation with students, theory
and exercise classes may be moved or exchanged. Exercise classes are not every week (as
opposed to theory classes).

Exercises
The lab work of this course is integrated in the course Photonics Laboratory of the 2nd semester.
Calculation exercises are done in the exercise classes.

Exam
The exam is with closed book and contains questions about both theory and exercises. The exam
takes half a day. Oral interrogation will be used for the theory (but there will be opportunity to
prepare something written), the exercise will be on paper.
Internet
Questions about the content (and about theory and exercises) or about the organisation can be
asked during the lectures. They can also be asked to the teaching staff by e-mail.

The Minerva system will be used for this course and information about the course will either be
given during classes or will be put on the Minerva-site.
LASERS 2012-2013

Preliminary timing

Tue 25/09 Introduction+ basic physics + Laser theory (NV)

Tue 02/10 Laser theory (NV)

Tue 09/10 Laser resonators (NV)

Tue 16/10 Laser resonators + Laser beams (NV)

Tue 23/10 Laser beams + Laser types (NV)

Tue 30/10 Laser types (NV)

Tue 06/11 Semiconductor lasers: physics (GM)

Tue 13/11 Semiconductor lasers: physics (GM)

Tue 20/11 Semiconductor lasers: physics (GM)

Tue 27/11 Semiconductor lasers: types (GM)