6.977 Ultrafast Optics (H)

L TR9:30-11, Room 1-190
Professor Franz Kaertner, kaertner@mit.edu, 36-393
Prereq.: 6.630 or 6.631 or equivalent
3-0-9

This subject does not qualify as an Engineering concentration subject.

A detailed exposition of the principles involved in ultrashort pulse generation, propagation, characterization and its applications is treated. • Linear and nonlinear pulse shaping processes: Optical solitons; Pulse compression.

• Laser principles: Single- and multi-mode laser dynamics; Q-switching; Active and passive mode-locking.

• Pulse characterization: Autocorrelator; FROG; SPIDER.

• Noise in mode-locked lasers and its limitations in measurements.

• Laser amplifiers, optical parametric amplifiers, and oscillators.

• Applications in research and industry: Pump-probe techniques; Optical imaging; Frequency metrology; Laser ablation; EUV-XUV generation.

This will be an advanced topics subject. The essential prerequisite is an introductory course in electromagnetism or optics (such as 6.630 or 6.631 or equivalent). There will be course notes instead of a textbook. Supplementary references for lecture material will be provided. There will be regular problem sets. No quizzes or final examination, but a term paper will be required. To assist in choosing term paper topics, a list of possible topics (with references) will be provided.