Students will be required to produce a Written Report on the laboratory activity conducted during the course, aimed at assessing the fundamental knowledge acquired and the ability to work in a research laboratory. The final assessment will consist of an Oral Examination with a discussion of the reports. The laboratory activity reports will be a critical evaluation element, focusing on aspects related to data presentation, data processing, and evaluation of experimental errors.
Course program
Introduction (16 hours lesson):
Introduction to the physics of LASER sources and of basic interaction-radiation matter phenomena:
absorption, spontaneous and stimulated emission, equations for a two-level system, amplification phenomena, photon flow equations, equilibrium and out-of-equilibrium populations. Principle of operation of a laser source: constituent elements and feedback process, level pumping schemes. General definition of open cavities and modes of the field e.m .; longitudinal and transversal modes; simple calculation of resonant frequencies. Laser cavities: flat-parallel, concentric and confocal. Definition of the stability conditions of a laser cavity and stability of the different types of cavities. Introduction to the various active media present in lasers.
Radiation characteristics e.m. produced by Laser sources:
Spectral characteristics of multimode and single mode lasers, Definition of spatial and temporal coherence parameters and their measurement through interferometric measurements, directionality properties, limited beams by diffraction, definition and meaning of the Radiance / Intensity of a laser beam.
Introduction to optical spectroscopy experiments and description of an experimental set-up:
Light diffusion processes; single vs. multiple scattering, scattering processes from particles of different sizes (geometric, Mie and Rayleigh). Spontaneous scattering measures of light, resolved in the frequency domain (Raman-Brilluoin) and in the time domain (Optical Kerr Effect). Introduction to spectroscopy techniques based on non-linear optics and ultrashort pulsed sources.
Laboratory experiences (40 hours of laboratory):
I Experience: Measurements resolved in the frequency-domain, Raman spectroscopy.
II Experience: Time-resolved measurements and techniques for characterizing ultrafast laser pulses.
Sustainable Development Goals 2030
This teaching contributes to the realization of the ONU objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Goal: Quality Education