Optics Laboratory (357-0-1)
Instructors
Timothy Light Kovachy
Meeting Info
Technological Institute F242: Tues, Thurs 12:40PM - 4:40PM
Overview of class
The Optics/Photonics Laboratory introduces students to a range of optical phenomena encountered in technology and research. Topics include interference and coherence, lasers, quantum and nonlinear optics, spectroscopy, optical cavities, and modern photonics devices. Students in this laboratory course obtain hands-on experience with classical and modern optical techniques, including frequency doubling, multiple types of interferometry, and the generation of entangled photon pairs.
Registration Requirements
A suggested pre-requisite is knowledge of electromagnetism at the level of Physics 135-2, 3 or higher. The instructors will consider exceptions to this on a case-by-case basis—please contact the instructors if you are interested in taking the course have not yet taken Physics 135.
Learning Objectives
Students will learn principles of photonic systems, light propagation and interference, and advanced optical techniques. Students will develop good experimental practices and physical insight into optical phenomena through independent experimentation with research-grade optical equipment.
Teaching Method
Eight hours of lab work per week. Students will perform several experiments throughout the quarter.
Evaluation Method
Attendance, lab reports.
Class Materials (Required)
Lab notebook (available at Norris)
Data Reduction and Error Analysis for the Physical Sciences 3rd Edition, by Philip Bevington (Author), D. Keith Robinson (Author)
Class Attributes
Natural Sciences Distro Area