Course Overview

Core courses provide a comprehensive education in laser systems, light
matter interaction, photonics, materials properties.

Learning Achievement

Competence

Course prerequisites

Bachelor in Physics

Grading Philosophy

Written exams in December:

- 3 to 4 written assignments (40% of the final grade)
- Two 2-hours exams (60% of the final grade)

Course schedule

Choice of:

A) ADVANCED QUANTUM MECHANICS + LIGHT-MATTER INTERACTION (6ECTS)

-  Approximation methods in quantum mechanics

-  Quantum treatment of a charged particle in an electromagnetic
field

-  Fine structure and hyperfine structure of one-electron atoms
systems of identical particles

-  Entangled states, EPR paradox and Bell inequality, experimental
tests, applications

-  Classic electrodynamic models of atom-radiation interaction

-  Semi-classic atom-laser interaction models

-  Applications

B) LASER PHYSICS & NONLINEAR OPTICS (6ECTS)

-  Introduction to laser: brief history, generalities,
characteristics of laser light
-  Laser cavities and Gaussian beams: ABCD matrices, stability,
transverse modes, Gaussian beams and propagation

-  Amplification: Absorption and emission, homogeneous and
inhomogeneous enlargements, rate equations, population   inversion in
3 and 4-level systems, Gain

-  Laser oscillation: Threshold condition, hole burning, frequency
pulling, evolution equations, power output and optimal coupling

-  Modes of operation: singlemode / multimode, continuous /
pulsed, mode selection, brief introduction to Q-switching and locking
mode

-  Laser technology and optical instrumentation: pumping,
birefringent optics, modulators, notions of nonlinear optics,
characterization tools

-  Types of lasers and applications with a focus on semiconductor
lasers

-  Non-linear optics

C) OPTICAL MICROSCOPY: LINEAR, NONLINEAR, SUPER-RESOLUTION (6ECTS)

-  Basic elements of a microscope

-  Basics of light-matter interaction: Absorption and Scattering
(Mie, Rayleigh)

-  Contrast mechanisms in white light microscopy

-  Quantitative Phase Imaging

-  Fluorescence molecular spectroscopy

-  Fluorescence microscopy (linear)

-  Basic notions about the concept of extrinsic probes as optical
reporters

-  Non-linear Fluorescence microscopy

-  Signal sensitivity, quantitative fluorescence microscopy,
spatial resolution

-  Adaptive optics in microscopy

-  Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. Time correlated
single photon counting

-  Revealing dipoles interactions by microscopy: Foerster resonant
energy transfert

-  Dynamic measurements: time resolution

-  Raman Based microscopy

-  Photoacoustic microscopy

-  Optical Coherence Tomography

Course type

Lectures.  - 106 contact hours (102 lectures, 4 exams) - 408 hours self-study (204 private reading, 102 writing assessment, 68 exam preparation, 34 group work preparation)

Online Course Requirement

Instructor

Other information

https://light-st.u-bordeaux.fr/ Duration: 4 months

Language of instruction: English
Mode of delivery: In-class learning, written assignments, written exams

Site for Inquiry