Sonoma State University, Saeid Rahimi, Ph.D.

Department of Physics and Astronomy, Fall 1999

(3 units, T,Th 12:45-1:55 PM)

This course covers the basic physical principles and applications of lasers, gas lasers, diode lasers, LEDs, fiber optics, fiber optics sensors and optical detectors. Students may take the course as part of their requirements for a BS degree in physics with a concentration in Applied Physics. Phys.447, the Lasers and Holography laboratory (1 unit) and Phys. 449, the Fiber Optics and Detectors laboratory (1-unit) are two laboratory courses associated with the present course. These group of courses fulfill the requirement for one of the elective options within the applied physics program.

Prerequisite: Phys. 314 (Modern Physics)

Contact saeid.rahimi@sonoma.edu for the URL of the following pages.

Pages 1-34, 33-50, 50-64, 64-70, 70-75, 76-86, 87-96, 97-107, 108-121

Course Contents:

1.1 Atomic Energy Levels

1.2 Spontaneous and Stimulated Emission of Radiation

1.3 Laser Amplification, Population Inversion, and Gain

1.4 Laser Cavity Oscillations

1.5 Laser Beam Properties

1.6 Spiking and Relaxation Oscillations

1.7 Laser Gain Switching, Q-Switching and Mode Locking

1.8 Tunable Lasers

2.1 Semiconductor Energy Bands

2.2 Semiconductor Diodes

2.3 LEDs and Diode Lasers

2.4 Diode Laser Materials

2.5 Diode Laser Characteristics and Equations

2.6 Diode Laser Types, Structures, and fabrication

2.7 Diode Laser Modulation

2.8 Lasers for Optical Fiber Communications

2.9 Laser Applications

3.1 Step-Index Fibers

3.2 Graded-Index Fibers

3.3 Attenuation and Dispersion

3.4 Optical Fiber Amplifiers

3.5 Fiber Optic Components

3.6 Fiber Optic Sensors

4.1 Detector Figure of Merit

4.2 Vacuum Tube Photodetectors

4.3 Photoconductors

4.4 Junction and p-i-n Photodiods

4.5 Avalanche Photodiodes

4.6 Thermal Detectors

4.7 Detector Noise

Fundamentals of Radiometry

Text: No text is required, however, the book by Saleh and Teich (reference # 1 below) is a recommended text. The electronic copies of the lectures will be available.

References: The following are only a few of the large number of publications on lasers, fiber optics, and optical detectors. No single reference covers the course contents at the intended level.

1. Fundamentals of Photonics, B.E.A. Saleh and M.C. Teich, Wiley (1991).

2. Principles of Lasers, O. Svelto, Plenum (1989).

3. Lasers, P. Millonni and J. H. Eberly, Wiley (1988).

4. An Introduction to Lasers and Their Applications, O'Shea, Callen and Rhodes, Addison-Wesley (1977).

5. Laser Electronics, J. T. Verdeyen, Prentice Hall (1989).

6. Optics Guide 5, Melles Griot Co. (1990).

7. Optoelectronics: Theory and Practice, ed. by A. Chappell, McGraw-Hill (1978).

8. Lasers and Optical Engineering, P. Das, Springer-Verlag (1991).

9. Lasers, A.E Siegman, University Science Books (1986).

10. The Laser Focus World, a monthly published magazine that includes many useful, interesting, and useful articles on optoelectronics in the Back to the Basics sections.

11. Lasers, 2nd ed., B. A. Lengyle, Wiley (1971).

12. Principles of Lasers, O. Svelto, 3rd ed. Plenum Press (1989).

13. Engineering Applications of Lasers and Holography, W. E. Kock, Plenum Press (1975).

14. Industrial Lasers and their Applications, J. T. Luxon, Prentice-Hall (1992)

15. Photonics Spectra, a monthly publication. A very useful source of current optoelectronics information similar to the reference 10 above.

16. Semiconductor Lasers and Heterojunction LEDs, H. Kressel and J.K Butler, Quantum Electronics, Academic Press (1977).

17. Optical Waveguide Theory, A. Snyder and J. Love, Chapman & Hall (1983).

18. Fiber Optics handbook, edited by A. Allard, McGraw-Hill (1989).

19. Fundamentals of Optical Fiber Communications, edited by M. Barnoski, Academic Press (1981).

20. Lightwave, a monthly publication on Fiber Optics and its Applications.

21. Optical Radiation Detectors, E. L. Dereniak, Wiley (1984)

22. Fundamentals of Infrared Detectors, J.D. Vincent, Wiley (1989).

23. Semiconductor Devices for Optical Communications, Edited by H. Kressel, Springer (1980).

24. Fiber Optics and Optoelectronics, P. K. Cheo, Prentice-Hall (1990).

25. Fiber Optic Sensors: An Introduction for Engineers and Scientists, edited by E. Udd, Wiley (1991).

26. Optical Fiber Sensors, edited by J. Dakin and B. Culshaw, Vol. I, II, Artech House (1988-89).

27. Optoelectronics, Physics Today (May 1985).

Homework: Students have one week to complete each assignment.

Tests: Midterm 1, Tu. Sept.30; Midterm 2, Tu. Nov.2; Final, ?

Grade: Homework (25%), Midterms (25% each); Final (25%).

Office Hours: Tu. 9-11 AM, F. 10-11 AM

Office: 331B Darwin; phone: 664-2169

e-mail: saeid.rahimi@sonoma.edu