If you find any errors, please report them to me! Thanks! bklein[at]gatech.edu
Introduction: What is a Laser?
Properties of Light
- Maxwell’s Equations and the Helmholtz Wave Equation
- From vector Helmholtz equation to scalar wave equation
- Solutions to the scalar wave equation
- Properties of the scalar wave equation solutions
- Time-harmonic waves
- Phase velocity and the refractive index
- The electromagnetic spectrum
- Generalizing the harmonic wave: plane waves
- Light reflection and refraction: the basics
- The spectrum of a laser and other light sources
- Directionality and Diffraction
- Optical Intensity
- Interference
- Coherence
- Interferometers and the Fabry-Perot Interferometer
- Cavity Q and Finesse
- Polarization
- Gaussian Beams
Interactions between Light & Matter
- A tiny bit of Quantum Mechanics
- Electron states in atoms
- Optical transitions in atoms
- Absorption, Spontaneous Emission and Stimulated Emission
- Calculating Excited State Populations
- Relating Einstein’s A and B coefficients
- Lineshape Broadening
- Beer’s Law
- Broadening Mechanisms
Laser Operation
- Pumping Schemes
- Gain Saturation
- Lasing and Threshold
- Above Threshold and Gain Clamping
- Laser Optical Modes
- Single-mode vs. Multi-mode Operation
- Calculating Inversion and Threshold Pump: 4-level scheme
- Mode Locking
- Q Switching
- Lamb Dip
- Laser Types
Semiconductor Lasers
- Semiconductor Basics
- Electron States in Semiconductors
- Filling the States
- Optical Transitions in Semiconductors
- Obtaining Inversion
- P-N Junction Diodes
- Semiconductor Pumping Schemes
- Calculating Electron Concentration, Gain, and Intensity
- Semiconductor Laser Structures
- Semiconductor Laser Materials
Appendices: Fun/Advanced/Side Stuff