Syllabus

Quantum Theory of Atomic Energy Levels – Radiative and Nonradiative decay of excited state atoms –Emission Broadening and linewidth – Radiation and Thermal equilibrium – Conditions for laser action –Laser Oscillation above threshold - Laser Amplifiers – Requirements for obtaining population inversion –Rate Equations for three and four level systems – Laser pumping requirements – Laser Cavity modes –Stable resonators – Gaussian beams– Special Laser Cavities – Q-switching and Mode locking –Generation of ultra fast Optical pulses– Pulse compression. Atomic Gas Lasers – He-Ne, Argon ion, He-Cd — Molecular Gas Lasers – CO2, Excimer, Nitrogen—X-Ray Plasma Laser — Free-Electron Laser — Organic Dye lasers — Solid-state lasers – Ruby, Nd:YAG, Alexandrite, Ti:Sapphire. Electronic and Optical properties of semiconductors– electron-hole pair formation, PN Junction,diffusion, injection efficiency, quantum efficiency, homojunction and heterojunction, Excitation absorption, donor-acceptor and impurity band absorption, LED, Semiconductor lasers, Heterojunction Lasers, quantum well lasers, VCSEL, DFB and DBR Lasers. Detection of Optical radiations – Basic Principle, Thermal detectors, Photo multipliers, photoconductive detectors, Photo diodes, Avalanche photodiodes, CCDs, Image Intensifiers, Arrays, Solar Cells, noise considerations. Optoelectronic Modulators – Basic principle, Birefringence, Optical Activity, EO, AO and MO Effects and modulators