U.S. Particle Accelerator School
Laser Principles and Devices course
Sponsoring University:
Colorado State University
Course:
Laser Principles and Devices
Instructors:
Jorge Rocca, Mario Marconi and Carmen Menoni, Colorado State University; Shukui Zhang, Jefferson Lab
Purpose and Audience
The purpose of this course is to introduce basic laser principles and to review key issues in the design and implementation of high power lasers, including solid state ultrashort pulse lasers, and ultrashort wavelength lasers. The course is intended for graduate students and postdoctoral fellows, who seek an introductory course relevant to understanding current laser technology of interest to accelerators.
Prerequisites
Required: Electromagnetism, basic optics concepts. Useful but not required: atomic physics.
It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that they meet the course prerequisites or have equivalent experience.
Objectives
The course is oriented to acquire the basic concepts related to both the physics fundamentals and the engineering involved in the design of high power laser devices. The course will start with the fundamental atomic physics and optics concepts underlying laser generation, amplification, and beam formation and propagation. It will evolve in describing the main aspects involved in the design of modern high power laser systems of interest to accelerators.
Instructional Method
The course will consist of 20 modules each one 2.5 hours. The modules include 16 lectures, 2 laboratory visits illustrating basic laser concepts covered in the course, and 2 exams. In addition the course will include 4 homework problem sets.
Course Content
Concept of laser amplification in an inverted atomic media, gain, gain saturation, different laser media. Gaussian beams, optical resonators design and properties. High power laser optics design and fabrication. Flash-lamp pumped and diode pumped solid state lasers. Ultra-short laser pulse generation and amplification techniques, pulse compression, and ultrafast measurements. Ultrashort wavelength laser generation. Examples of applications of interest to accelerator technology and accelerator physics will be given.
Reading Requirements
(to be provided by the USPAS) "Laser Electronics", by Joseph Verdeyen, Prentice Hall, 1995. Notes will be provided by the instructors.
Additional but optional reading:
Anthony Siegman. “Lasers”, University Science Books
William Silfvast. “Laser Fundamentals”, Oxford University Press
Walter Koechner. “Solid State Laser Engineering”, Springer Verlag
Credit Requirements
Students will be evaluated based on performance as follows: Two exams, one at the end of each of the two weeks (30% of final grade each), and 4 homework assignments (40% of final grade).
IU/USPAS course: 571