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Course Info | Class Notes | Evaluation / Check Marks | Labs | Class Schedule & Homework |

Course Description

PHYS1108 Optics and Waves
PHYS1220 Kinematics and Dynamics


This course is a prerequisite for PHTN1400 and PHTN1432

This course is offered as part of the Photonics Engineering Technician (2 year) and Photonics Engineering Technologist (3 year) Programs at Niagara College.

Evaluation ...

• Three midterm examinations, totalling 50%, as follows ...
These midterm tests primarily evaluate fundamental concepts of light emission and lasers. (e.g. expect questions of the nature "solve for xxxx given parameters yyyy). Questions pertaining to knowledge gained during lab assignments will also be incorporated into the tests (e.g. calculating wavelengths using a spectroscope, etc).
Midterm #1 during week 6 (on Friday 2011/10/14) in class
One Hour, in class, worth 12.5%. Covering Blackbody concepts, atomic emission, spectroscopy, semiconductors, and quantum mechanics concepts (Chapters 1, 2, and 3)
Review held in class on Friday 2011/10/07
Midterm #2 during week 10 (on Friday 2011/11/11) in class
One Hour, in class, worth 12.5%. Covering, primarily, the gain threshold equation (Chapter 4) and application to various laser configurations
Review held in class on Monday 2011/11/07
Final term test #3 during week 14 (on Monday 2011/12/05) in class
Two hours, in class, worth 25%. Covering applications of theory to real-world problems involving lasers (primarily using gain/loss concepts to develop basic models and predict operating parameters such as gain and output power)
Do not expect questions testing 'pure theory' such as the first two tests, rather expect concepts such as blackbody radiation to be applied to a practical problem such as determination of required laser gain. It is not an "all encompassing" final exam (there is no "traditional" all-encompassing final exam in this course during exam period) but rather a demonstration of application of learned theory.


• Labs and assignments combined for a total of 50%

Check your marks here NOTE: these are UNOFFICIAL marks to be used only for the guidance of students as the term progresses. Official marks will appear on your transcript at the end of the term.

NOTE: COURSE POLICIES HAVE CHANGED SINCE LAST YEAR ....

Course policies have been realigned to match the Standardized Policies and Procedures for CEE (dated January 2011). In summary, the changes for 2011 are:

• LATE assignments are now worth ZERO. There is no longer a "grace period" with a "per day" penalty. Late submissions (i.e. ANY not printed and ready when you enter the lab) receive a mark of zero. You will be DENIED access to the printer at the start of the lab - either the lab is ready to submit, or it is late and hence worth zero.
• Students are allowed only ONE single-day late submission without penalty. This is a once only one-day extension ... once used, any further late submission will receive an automatic zero.
(This policy reflects expectations in the real world: to be late for work, once, will likely not result in termination however chronic late arrivals will almost certainly result in job loss. Develop good work ethic _now_.)
• Students must pass the theory (testing) and practical (lab/assignment) portions of the course separately in order to receive a passing grade. If a failing grade is received in either portion, then the lower of the two marks (theory or practical) will become the final grade.
• In order to be considered for supplementary evaluation (SE) upon failure in this course, a mark of 50% minimum will be required in the practical (lab/assignment) portion of the course plus a mark of 45% minimum in the theory (testing) portion. A theory mark of 44% or less, or a lab mark of 49% or less, will result in failure with no SE option.

Complete course policies can be found in the Teaching and Learning Plan (T&LP) document found on Blackboard.

Textbook

Fundamentals of Light Sources and Lasers by Csele, 2004, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-47660-9

Chapters 1 to 5 and 9 are covered in this course. The rest of the text is covered in the next course

Course Notes

Lab References:
• NIST eBook of Atomic Spectral Data as required for several labs in this course
• Notes On Lab Reports details what is required for a lab report in this course
• Notes On Lab Reports II with an advanced discussion on both formal and informal lab reports


• Using a Spectroscope the basic theory and use of the spectroscopes in lab 1
• Spectroscopes a reference on using a spectroscope as required for Labs 1 and 2 (Password-protected PDF)
• Photomultiplier Tubes the basic operation of these tubes as required for lab 3 (opens in a new window)

Lecture Notes:
• Chapter 1 and 2 notes on Blackbody radiation and atomic emission (Password-protected PDF)
• Chapter 3 - Quantum Intro notes on introductory quantum mechanics concepts (Password-protected PDF)
• Midterm #1 Preview a collection of practice questions (with answers, but not full solutions) (Password-protected PDF)


• Laser Gain from the in-class presentation (the most important concept of the entire year!) (Password-protected PDF)
• Pre-Lab #5 Notes from the in-class presentation. Also contains a good example for study purposes (Password-protected PDF)
• HeNe Visible Gas Laser the development of the visible HeNe laser from the OSA www.osa.org to which all student have access from and college computer. Makes an excellent review after lab #4 of major concepts! (Password-protected PDF)
• Test #2 Practice Question a practice question to be done prior to the review class on Friday 2011/11/04
• Midterm #2 Preview a collection of practice questions (with answers, but not full solutions) (Password-protected PDF)


• Cross-Sections and Gain from the in-class presentation (the second most important concept of the entire year!) (Password-protected PDF)

Test #3 Review:
• Helium-Cadmium Example from the in-class presentation. A complete example of the kind you'd see on the test which will be solved in it's entirety in class. (Password-protected PDF)
• Helium-Cadmium Solution numerical solutions to the presentation (Password-protected PDF)
• Helium-Cadmium Hints if you're really stuck, a few hints to get you started ... try it yourself first, though, as hints will not be given on the actual test! (Password-protected PDF)
• Practice Questions for test #3. (Password-protected PDF)
• Thermal Gain Example a second study example (Password-protected PDF)
• Entrance Exam for PHTN1400 a _very minimal_ standard for entry into PHTN1400, from the in-class presentation. Good study practice. (Password-protected PDF)

Useful Links

• NIST eBook of Atomic Spectral Data as required for several labs in this course
• Hyperphysics by C.R. Nave ...a complete Web-based physics reference
• Quantum Mechanics Primer from the Homebuilt Lasers Site (opens in a new window)
• Physical Simulations of Light and Radiation (including Lasers) from PhET (U of Colorado)

Equipment Manuals and SOPs

• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for laboratory equipment.

Lecture Schedule (completed/planned)

Week 1 2011/09/09:
  Course introduction, policies, labs, evaluation, and overview
Week 2 2011/09/12:
  Chapter 1 and 2
  Blackbody radiation, Quantization (2 hrs)
  Quantization, Photoelectric effect, FHz experiment (1 hr)
  LAB #0: Introduction lab in V12A - safety, lab format, etc.
Week 3 2011/09/19:
  Chapter 2
  FHz experiment, Fluorescence, Semiconductors (2 hrs)
  LAB #1: Basic Spectroscopy
    PRELAB DUE at the beginning of the lab   
Week 4 2011/09/26:
  Chapter 3
  Quantum Mechanics
  LAB #1: Basic Spectroscopy (Parts C & D)
Week 5 2011/10/03:
  Midterm #1 Review
    Practice Test questions given out in class
  LAB #2: Determining Planck's Constant
Week 6 2011/10/10:
  No lecture on Monday (Thanksgiving Holiday)
  Term Test #1 (FRIDAY, in class)
  LAB #3: Advanced Spectroscopy
Week 7 2011/10/17:
  Chapter 4
  Lasers: Pumping, Inversion, Pathways, Basic Rate equations
  Role of level lifetime
  Lab #3 due on Wednesday
  LAB on Wednesday: Tutorial for the prelab
Week 8 2011/10/24:
  Laser gain
  Developing and using the Threshold gain equation
  Lab #4: HeNe Lasers (Part 1 of 2)
Week 9 2011/10/31:
  Pre-Lab #5 Concepts
    Alignment techniques, modes, windows, induced losses, Fresnel equations
  Midterm #2 review
  Lab #4: HeNe Lasers (Part 2 of 2)
Week 10 2011/11/07:
  Take-up and questions for the midterm
  Basics of 3&4 level lasers (Csele 5.2)
    Examples: Ruby and YAG
  Term Test #2 (FRIDAY, in class)
  Lab #4 is DUE on Wednesday
  Lab #5: Gas Laser Optics (Part 1 of 3)
Week 11 2011/11/14:
  Return and review Midterm #2
  CW / Pulsed lasers (Csele 5.3)
  Depopulation (Csele 5.4)
  Putting it all together ... levels and lifetimes
  Lab #5: Gas Laser Optics (Part 2 of 3)
Week 12 2011/11/21:
  Cross-section and Gain
  Predicting ultimate output power
  Lab #5: Gas Laser Optics (Part 3 of 3)


Week 13 2011/11/28:
  HeCd example (complete)
  Review for Term test #3
  Lab #5 is DUE on Wednesday
Week 14 2011/12/05:
  Term Test #3 (MONDAY, in class, 2 hours)
 

Laboratories and Assignments

There are five labs plus two assignments in this course. Lab sessions are two-hours in length and individual labs can span up to three consecutive lab periods. Labs for this course emphasize both proficiency in manual skills required of a technician (e.g. the ability to use laboratory equipment, align optics and lasers, and take measurements of a system to characterize it) and experimental proof of concepts from the lectures. Reports will be submitted for each lab with an emphasis on results and observations.

In line with departmental policies, the lab portion of this course MUST be passed SEPARATELY from the theory portion in order to pass this course. Late labs result in an immediate mark of ZERO with no exceptions and no excuses accepted (including the now infamous "my printer ran out of ink" and "my computer died"). Failure to submit a lab (and a late lab is considered failed and will receive a mark of zero) will result in the student being placed on course condition. Failure to submit a second lab results in immediate EXPULSION from the course.

WARNING: You must pass the lab portion of the course separately from the theory portion in order to pass the course. Submission of late labs, or failure to submit any lab, will result in the student being placed on course condition - subsequent failure to submit labs on-time will result in automatic and immediate expulsion from the course (as discussed on the first day of classes): see the TL&P on Blackboard for details.

NOTE: While observed results (numbers only) may be identical for more than one student, no other portions of the lab are to be shared. Where procedures, analysis, graphs, and/or conclusions are suspected to be plagiarized, labs will be submitted to the dean's office and all students involved will receive a mark of zero. "Sharing" answers and analysis often equates to "Plagiarism" which is academic misconduct and will be treated accordingly.

Spectroscopy Labs:

Lab 0: Introduction
An introductory lab session in which lab groups will be assigned. Several key topics including lab safety, procedures, and lab report format will be covered.
On week 2 (Wednesday, 2011/09/14)


Lab 1: Basic Spectroscopy Updated 2011/09/21
The emissions of various light sources are analyzed using two types of grating instruments. Emissions from broadband sources such as incandescent and fluorescent sources are first analyzed using a manual spectroscope, after a suitable (and involved) calibration procedure. In the case of the fluorescent lamp, each observed line and band is assigned to the component source in the lamp. Atomic spectra from several pure gases in spectrum tubes (Hydrogen and Neon) are also analyzed. Finally, students will be given an unknown spectral source (a spectrum tube with an unknown gas) and be required to identify the gas via its spectral emissions using a high-resolution computer-based Ocean Optics spectrograph.
Lab Weighting: 2.0
Part A&B on week 3 (2011/09/21) - Prelab also due at this time; Part C&D on week 4 (2011/09/28)
Full Lab Report due at the beginning of the lab on week 5 (2011/10/05). Failure to submit this lab BEFORE on ON the due date and time will result in an immediate ZERO on the lab and placing of the student on course condition (meaning one more late or missing lab results in immediate EXPULSION from the course without recourse).
PRELAB due on entry to first lab period (week 3)
Lab 1 Marking Scheme example

Lab 2: Determining Planck's Constant
Using spectroscopy and basic electronics the spectral and V/I characteristics of several LEDs is observed. Analysis of the data allows determination of Planck's constant. Using the same technique, the unknown emission wavelength of an IR LED is determined solely from electrical observations.
Lab Weighting: 1.0
Lab on week 5 (2011/10/05)
Condensed Lab Report due at the beginning of the lab on week 6 (2011/10/12)

Lab 3: Advanced Spectroscopy
A lab in which practical skills aimed at using various spectrometers will be developed and students will research the basic principles of these spectrometers. Students will use a manual (single beam) spectrometer in the first part of the lab (a Coleman-20) and both a Perkin-Elmer Lambda-3B dual-beam automated spectrograph in the second part of the lab. The operation of the single-beam, manual unit (Coleman-20) and the Dual-beam unit (Lambda 3B) will be compared, especially with respect to use of each for analytical processes.
Lab Weighting: 1.0
Lab on week 6 (2011/10/12)
Condensed Lab Report (with questions) due on week 7 (2011/10/19) in V12A

Week 7: 2011/10/19
Lab #3 is due at the beginning of the regular lab period (2011/10/19). There will be a tutorial period in V12A to assist you in completing the prelab assignment for Lab #4 (which is somewhat complex).

Laser Labs and Assignments:

Lab 4: HeNe Lasers (Updated for 2011)
Basic electronics and laboratory skills will be developed while investigating the operation of the helium-neon gas laser. Students will wire a 'bare' gas laser tube to a power supply. As part of an assignment, optical and electrical characteristics will be investigated and students will be introduced to application of the gain threshold equation.
Lab Weighting: 2.0
Lab on week 8 and 9 (2011/10/26 and 2011/11/02)
Condensed Lab Report (with questions) due on week 10 (2011/11/09)
PRELAB due on entry to first lab period (week 8 - 2011/10/26)


Lab 5: Gas Laser Optics (Updated for 2011)
A bare helium-neon gas laser tube with completely external optics (the tube features windows instead of integral optics like most tubes) will be setup and the mechanics of this laser will be studied. The student will build the entire optical resonator on an optical breadboard and align cavity optics. Various electromagnetic modes (TEMxx) will be observed when aligning the optics. Next, gain will be determined (in the same manner as outlined in chapter 4 of Csele) by inserting a glass slide intra-cavity at various angles. This glass slide will render a loss ranging from close to 0% at Brewster's angle (polarized) to 8% at perpendicular. Using a reformulated gain threshold equation, actual small-signal gain (g₀) for the amplification medium will be determined.
Lab Weighting: 2.0
Part A on week 10 (2011/11/09)
Part B on week 11 (2011/11/16)
Part C on week 12 (2011/11/23)
Full Lab Report due at the beginning of your regular lab period on week 13 (2011/11/30)
PRELAB due on Monday, 2011/11/14 at 3:30 in class
Lab 5 Marking Scheme example

Contacts:

For this course ...
Professor Mark Csele
Office: Office: V13 (Office hours are POSTED on the EL panel on the door)
Telephone: (905) 735-2211 x.7629
E-Mail: (Be sure to include 'Lasers' in the subject line to avoid deletion by an anti-spam filter)
URL: http://technology.niagarac.on.ca/people/mcsele

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