Course Info | Class Notes | Evaluation / Check Marks | Labs | Class Schedule & Homework |
Course Description
In this course, students will mathematically model laser systems. Specific topics include the development of rate equations in the presence of laser radiation, development of models to predict the development of population inversion (& hence gain) and output power in both pulsed and CW lasers, and determination of optimal laser parameters (such as output coupling, Q-switch delay, etc) for various laser systems. Many models will use numerical methods and will utilize spreadsheets. As well as a large theoretical component, this course includes a substantial lab component through which students can examine application of, and prove, various models developed in the course on a variety of lasers.
This course is offered as part of the Photonics Engineering Technology (3 year) Program at Niagara College.
Fundamentals of Light Sources and Lasers by Csele, 2004, John Wiley & Sons, ISBN 0-471-47660-9
Specific Elements Of This Course
Class Schedule
(completed/planned)
Students in this course will complete three of four two-hour laboratory assignments with a varied schedule in small groups.
A penalty of 50% is levied for an absence during a lab period. All labs are due one week after they are completed in the laboratory by or at the time of the beginning of the lab period, after which they are considered late and penalized at the rate of 10% per day (i.e. the 'day' late begins at the start time of the lab).
Lab 1: Lasing threshold of a Solid-State Laser
The threshold of pump power for a long-pulse YAG laser is determined. Several relationships in the text are proven and a simple mathematical model is developed to include inserted intra-cavity losses.
Lab on week 3
Lab 2: Lasing threshold of a Semiconductor Laser
In the lab, several key physical parameters of a commercial-grade semiconductor diode laser are determined and from these a model is developed to predict the threshold current of the device (following question 5.9 on page 158 of Csele).
Lab on week 6
Lab #3: Time Domain Modelling of a Solid-State Laser System
By monitoring the flashlamp intensity of a solid-state YAG laser, a model is developed to predict the inversion, and hence the gain, as it develops in time taking into account both pumped population as well as spontaneous decay. Results of the model are compared to actual experimental results. In this manner, the optimal time to open the Q-switch may be predicted.
Lab on week 9
Lab #4: Double-Pulse Q-Switched lasers
An Apollo 22HD double-pulsed ruby laser employing an EO Pockels cell Q-switch will be used to investigate energy storage in a solid-state laser medium. The first pulse will be set to zero and the second pulse to optimally deplete the energy in the rod. The first pulse will then be varied until pulse energy is matched between the two and finally the second pulse is extinct. Calculations will then be performed determining the energy storage parameters of the rod. This experiment will be performed in V13A (advanced optics lab) where the laser is housed.
Lab on week 12
The lab schedule is subject to change based on availability of laboratory equipment
For this course ...
Professor Mark Csele
Office: V-13 (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
Copyright (C) Mark Csele and Niagara College, Canada, 2009-2010
Some images and text are published in Fundamentals of Light Sources and Lasers by Csele, Wiley (2004), ISBN 0-471-47660-9 and hence are Copyright (C) John Wiley and Sons. Further reproduction in any form is prohibited without written approval from the publisher.