The course will provide the operational principles of lasers, based on the rate equations of the relevant levels of an amplifying medium. Oscillators and amplifiers are studied in the cw and pulsed regimes. The paraxial transfer matrices are used to study Gaussian beams and the stability of laser cavities. The properties of laser radiation are described, as well as their consequences on laser safety. The course provides insights in the different types of lasers and their applications.

1. Atoms and photons :
interaction processes, examples of absorption lines, effective area of a laser wave, population rate equations.
2. Optical amplification :
Intensity, influence of the origin of spectral broadening, index modulation in the amplifier.
3. laser amplifiers
The oscillation condition, output intensity, case of the linear cavities, optical spectrum of the laser oscillator.
4. Pulsed lasers
Pulsed oscillators and pulsed amplifiers
5. laser optics
intuitive approach and detailed study of the spherical Gaussian wave, conditions for stable laser cavities, higher order modes.
6. the different types of lasers
7. laser safety
8. applications of lasers

Evaluation mechanism : Written exam : 3h. The examination is generally composed of basic questions very close to the course and different exercises. All documents are authorized.

Last Modification : Monday 19 October 2009