Bf.25 Optical Physics
Contents Basic concepts of optical physics, including coherent light-atom interaction, physics of lasers, non-linear optics and elements of quantum optics are covered.
The interaction of light with atoms is treated based on the time-dependent Schrodinger equation. Absorption and dispersion of atomic medium near atomic resonances is discussed. Density matrix and Bloch equations are introduced to describe coherent and relaxation effects in light-atom interactions.
The physics of lasers is treated based on population rate equations and the wave equation. Optical resonators are described with ABCD matrix formalism. Some specific modern lasers are overviewed.
An introduction is given to nonlinear optics including second harmonic generation, parametric processes and Raman processes. Effects due to quantum nature of light are intriduced and discussed.
Throughout the course basic wave optics phenomena such as interference, coherence, diffraction, polarization and optical modulation are revisited, with emphasis on applications.
Literature P.W. Milonni and J.H. Eberly, "Lasers" (Wiley, 1988, or 1999).
Evaluation Pass/Fail
Lecturer Eugene Polzik
Points/ECTS-credits 1/5
Semester Autumn.