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UIMS

Topics in Contemporary Optics

Lecturer: Mark Notcutt

Course Outline

This course will cover three subjects of interest in modern optics so as to strike a balance between covering a number of topics and being able to give a reasonable introduction to each topic. Three topics are presented, each being two lectures.

Lectures 1 & 2 - Quantum description of light

The description of most interaction between light and matter can be done semi-classically, with the use of photons and quantised energy levels but an otherwise classical radiation field. These lectures will introduce the quantisation of the radiation field for describing optical phenomena. Classical coherence functions will be described leading on to quantum coherence functions. This allows the description of different types of radiation such as coherent, bunched and anti-bunched light. Squeezed states will be described as well as the methods of producing squeezed light.

  • Concepts of quantum optics Knight and Allen.

    Lectures 3 & 4 - Modern Interferometry

    Modern Fabry-Perot cavities will be discussed in moderate detail. This will lead on to descriptions of Gravitational wave detection devices, laser stabilisation schemes and spectroscopic experiments. Modern active optical telescopes to remove atmospheric aberration will be described if there is time.

  • Chapters from Highly coherent diode lasers
  • Chapter from Detection of Gravitational waves (DG Blair)
  • Review papers

    Lectures 5 & 6

    Laser cooling, ion traps and optical frequency synthesisers from microwave frequencies.

    This will cover the processes involved in the laser cooling of particles to microkelvin temperatures. Ion traps will be briefly covered. The construction of frequency chains that allow the absolute measurement of optical frequencies will be described.

  • Chapter from Les Houche Summer School 1990
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