Official description

This course covers a broad range of advanced topics in classical optics, with the laser as a unifying theme. Topics include atom-photon interactions (absorption, radiation, and stimulated emission), how a laser works (gain, pumping, rate equation models, threshold, and gain clamping), optical resonators (their spectrum, finesse, stability, and transverse modes), propagation of Gaussian beams and paraxial rays, and the statistics of optical fields (spatial and temporal coherence). Time permitting, pulse propagation and pulsed lasers will be discussed.

Additional information

Interference effects in coherent light requires a description beyond ray optics or simple plane waves.  The first half of this course builds on your foundation of electromagnetic theory and basic optics to develop advanced topics such as interference, spatial coherence, temporal coherence, and diffraction of light.  The second half of the course discusses lasers, which are the brightest sources of coherent radiation.  Our treatment includes Gaussian beams, resonant cavities, threshold criteria, the Lorentz model of the atom, and a comparison to thermal radiation.