Advanced Lasers

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Appreciate the physics behind ultrafast pulse generation and propagation
• Appreciate the breadth of applications for solid state lasers, and why each laser suits a particular application
• Appreciate the potential variety of solid state lasers, with their various advantages and disadvantages

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Perform quantitative calculations on the operating parameter and output parameters of a wide variety of solid state and ultrafast lasers
• Be able to assess the application of different laser systems to particular applications
• Understand how the design of lasers will influence their output characteristics
• Predict the properties of new laser systems based upon knowledge of their design parameters

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Use a variety of information sources (lectures, web, journals) to understand & solve problems (in this case in contemporary laser physics)

• Fundamentals of lasers
• Laser beams and their properties - Gaussian beam optics, beam propagation factor (M 2),

multimode beams

• Spectroscopic and physical properties of solid-state and fibre laser gain media
• Theory for three/four-level lasers – Threshold, slope efficiency, output power, gain
• Laser modes and resonator design (free-space and guided-wave)
• Pump sources, pump delivery and coupling schemes
• Transverse and longitudinal mode selection
• Wavelength diversity – Main laser transitions, wavelength selection and tuning
• Transient dynamics
• Continuous-wave laser architectures – Design considerations and techniques
• Pulsed laser architectures – Design considerations and techniques
• Heat generation and thermal management
• Power scaling strategies (cladding-pumping, MOPAs, thin disk, planar/slab, beam combination)
• Pulse propagation in dispersive and nonlinear media
• Ultrafast pulse measurement: autocorrelation, FROG
• Chirped pulse amplification: Ti-sapphire, fibre
• Power scaling limits (thermal, damage, nonlinear, self-focussing)

Combination of lectures, lab visits and problem classes.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.