INGLESE

Syllabus:
1) Light polarization and anisotropic media
2) Optical beams and their propagation
3) Laser oscillation and laser radiation properties
4) Modulation of optical radiation: theory and devices
5) Noise in laser oscillators
6) Introduction to nonlinear optics

Textbooks:
- Optoelectronics & Photonics: Principles & Practices – S.O. Kasap, Pearson
- Nonlinear Optics – R.W. Boyd, Academic Press
- Laser Physics – P.W. Milonni, J.H. Eberly, Wiley
- Quantum Electronics - A. Yariv, Wiley

- Knowledge and understanding:
The course intends to provide an introduction to photonics, with a particular focus on the theory of laser oscillators, as well as the properties of laser radiation. The course covers a wide range of optical phenomena and devices, including wave propagation in anisotropic media, electrooptic and photoelastic effects. In addition, it provides an introduction to nonlinear optics.
- Applying knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the learning process, the students will acquire the basic knowledge that is needed to manage a large variety of optical technologies and devices of general use in many branches of Physics.
Concerning communicative skills, the course will develop the student's ability in presenting in a clear and rigorous ways optical methods and technologies.

Adequate Knowledge of Electromagnetism; Optics; Atomic physics.

The course is structured in 48 hours of frontal lectures.
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

The examination consists in an oral interview based on the discussion of the topics treated during the course, with a typical duration of 40 minutes. Together with the evaluation of the degree of knowledge and understanding reached by the student, the interview is aimed to evaluate the students' ability in managing optical phenomena.

This course is recommended for the study track dealing with Atoms, Molecules and Photons.

1) Light polarization and anisotropic media: Linear, circular and elliptical polarization; angular momentum and photon picture; birefringence; uniaxial crystals; dichroism, optical activity; polarizers (1 CFU)
2) Gaussian beams and their propagation: ray propagation in optical media; formal treatment of the Gaussian beam; fundamental and high-order Gaussian beam modes; Gaussian beam focusing; optical resonators; mode stability criteria; resonance frequencies (1 CFU)
3) Laser oscillation and laser radiation properties: Laser ingredients and operation principles; stimulated emission and population inversion; threshold gain condition; rate equations; gain curve; He-Ne laser; basics of coherence theory: degree of coherence and mutual coherence function; pulsed lasers: Q-switching and mode-locking; optical frequency combs (1 CFU)
4) Modulation of optical radiation: amplitude, phase and frequency modulations; Kerr and Pockels effects; photoelastic effect; electro-optic and acousto-optic modulators; examples of application (0.5 CFU)
5) Noise in laser oscillators: intensity fluctuations; noise due to the particle nature of light; laser emission width and profile; influence of spontaneous emission; characterization of laser stability and measurement methods; Allan deviation analysis (1 CFU)
6) Introduction to nonlinear optics: nonlinear optical susceptibility; the classical model of anharmonic oscillators; second harmonic generation; sum frequency generation; difference frequency generation; phase matching considerations; wave-equation description of nonlinear optical phenomena (1.5 CFU)

English

Syllabus:
1) Light polarization and anisotropic media
2) Optical beams and their propagation
3) Laser oscillation and laser radiation properties
4) Modulation of optical radiation: theory and devices
5) Noise in laser oscillators
6) Introduction to nonlinear optics

Textbooks:
- Optoelectronics & Photonics: Principles & Practices – S.O. Kasap, Pearson
- Nonlinear Optics – R.W. Boyd, Academic Press
- Laser Physics – P.W. Milonni, J.H. Eberly, Wiley
- Quantum Electronics - A. Yariv, Wiley

- Knowledge and understanding:
The course intends to provide an introduction to photonics, with a particular focus on the theory of laser oscillators, as well as the properties of laser radiation. The course covers a wide range of optical phenomena and devices, including wave propagation in anisotropic media, electrooptic and photoelastic effects. In addition, it provides an introduction to nonlinear optics.
- Applying knowledge and understanding:
At the end of the learning process, the students will acquire the basic knowledge that is needed to manage a large variety of optical technologies and devices of general use in many branches of Physics.
Concerning communicative skills, the course will develop the student's ability in presenting in a clear and rigorous ways optical methods and technologies.

Adequate Knowledge of Electromagnetism; Optics; Atomic physics.

The course is structured in 48 hours of frontal lectures.
Attendance is not compulsory but strongly recommended.

The examination consists in an oral interview based on the discussion of the topics treated during the course, with a typical duration of 40 minutes. Together with the evaluation of the degree of knowledge and understanding reached by the student, the interview is aimed to evaluate the students' ability in managing optical phenomena.

This course is recommended for the study track dealing with Atoms, Molecules and Photons.

1) Light polarization and anisotropic media: Linear, circular and elliptical polarization; angular momentum and photon picture; birefringence; uniaxial crystals; dichroism, optical activity; polarizers (1 CFU)
2) Gaussian beams and their propagation: ray propagation in optical media; formal treatment of the Gaussian beam; fundamental and high-order Gaussian beam modes; Gaussian beam focusing; optical resonators; mode stability criteria; resonance frequencies (1 CFU)
3) Laser oscillation and laser radiation properties: Laser ingredients and operation principles; stimulated emission and population inversion; threshold gain condition; rate equations; gain curve; He-Ne laser; basics of coherence theory: degree of coherence and mutual coherence function; pulsed lasers: Q-switching and mode-locking; optical frequency combs (1 CFU)
4) Modulation of optical radiation: amplitude, phase and frequency modulations; Kerr and Pockels effects; photoelastic effect; electro-optic and acousto-optic modulators; examples of application (0.5 CFU)
5) Noise in laser oscillators: intensity fluctuations; noise due to the particle nature of light; laser emission width and profile; influence of spontaneous emission; characterization of laser stability and measurement methods; Allan deviation analysis (1 CFU)
6) Introduction to nonlinear optics: nonlinear optical susceptibility; the classical model of anharmonic oscillators; second harmonic generation; sum frequency generation; difference frequency generation; phase matching considerations; wave-equation description of nonlinear optical phenomena (1.5 CFU)