ELEN 489-501 : Introduction to Experimental Optics
Spring 2004
Instructor: Philip Hemmer
Room #: ZAC 216H
Email: prhemmer@ee.tamu.edu
Description: Optics is becoming increasingly important in
many application areas such as communication, data storage, computing,
and chemical/biological diagnostics. For most of these applications,
the basic hardware and experimental techniques are similar. This course
will provide a hands-on introduction to these techniques. In the lectures,
basic optical and electronic hardware and their uses will be described,
followed by overviews of representative topic areas in optics. In
the laboratory, students will gain extensive hands-on experience with
experimental optics by starting from scratch and building an opto-electronic
servo system, designed to lock a narrowband optical filter to a laser.
The key skills and technologies needed to accomplish this will be
introduced when needed, by breaking this complex task into a series
of simpler ones, in which students will demonstrate proficiency before
proceeding onto the next task. Students will also demonstrate technical
presentation skills by presenting a topic of their choice to the class.
There will be lectures followed by laboratory time for a total of about
6 hours per week.
Lecture Notes
| Topics |
Lectures |
| 1. Basic experimental techniques including keeping
a laboratory book and handling of optical components |
3 |
| 2. Passive optical components such as mirrors,
lenses, and polarizers |
3 |
| 3. Optical mechanics and component mounting techniques |
6 |
| 4. Lasers - properties and operation |
3 |
| 5. Coherence and interference effects |
3 |
| 6.Basic electronics including op amps |
4 |
| 7. Optical detectors and data collection |
5 |
| 8. Active optical elements such as acousto-optics |
5 |
| 9. Servos and transducers |
4 |
| 10. Laser intensity stabilization |
3 |
| 11. Lock-in amplifiers and ac servo techniques |
5 |
| 12. Technical presentation skills |
1 |
|
Total
|
45 |
Prerequisites: None.
References: Optics by Eugene Hecht, Addison Wesley Pub. Co.
Grading:
Lecture room: ZAC-128A
Lab room: ZAC-026
