PH481/581-VT1 Laser Physics I (Fall 2025)

Lecture: Monday, Wednesday 4:00-5:15 pm, East Science Hall (ESH) Room ESH 3160.

Professor: Sergey Mirov, Office Hours: Wednesday, 10:00 am-12:00 in ESH 4107 or by appointment (934-8088, mirov@uab.edu)

Course Text: Lasers and Electro-Optics, Fundamentals and Engineering by Christopher Davis

Supplemental Books: Lasers and Electro-Optics by Christopher Davis (LEO) is the only textbook that will be required (Cambridge University Press 2014, 2^nd Edition ISBN 978-0-521-86029-1). However, the textbook material will be significantly augmented by additional in-class lecture material, particularly in the area of lasers and applications of laser spectroscopy. The exams and homework will cover material from LEO and the in-class lectures. For students that would like sources of additional reading (again, this is not necessary, but some students like to have additional reading sources), other excellent books include: (i) Fundamentals of Photonics by B.E.A. Saleh & M.C. Teich; (ii) Laser Fundamentals by William Silfvast, (iii) Optical Electronics by Amnon Yariv; (iv) Laser Spectroscopy by Wolfgang Demtroder; (v) Principles of Lasers by Orazio Svelto, (vi) Laser Physics by Simon Hooker and Colin Webb, and (vii) Laser Electronics by Joseph Verdeyen.

Homework: Homework problems will be assigned weekly, at the end of class, and will be due the following week at the beginning of the class to verify your continuing effort. It is absolutely critical to work these problems yourself when they are assigned, since this will help to lock in understanding of the physical principles learned from class and the textbook, and develop problem-solving skills which will be necessary for any type of success on the exams.

Exams: The exams will be based on problems related to (but often with important differences) homework problems and problems discussed in class. The exam problems will be designed to test your understanding of physics principles and your ability to apply them in practice. The exams will be graded on a step-by-step basis, with partial credit awarded for correct steps and techniques even if the answer is wrong. Full credit will be awarded only if the right answer is obtained for the right reason.

Students of PH581 will usually be assigned additional (with respect to students of PH481) homework and exam problems.

Related UAB core learning outcomes: Students successfully completing this course will demonstrate knowledge of fundamentals of laser physics, the characteristics of laser radiation, and individual types of lasers, including optically pumped dielectric crystal lasers, atomic gas lasers, molecular gas lasers, and semiconductor lasers.

Course learning objectives:

· Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of fundamental aspects of laser physics and engineering of lasers of all kinds, including fundamental physics of stimulated emission process and laser amplifiers, optical resonators, characteristics of laser radiation, and methods for controlling it, as well as practical aspects of optics that pertain to an understanding of these subjects.

· Demonstrate ability to apply the knowledge of the fundamental aspects of laser physics, as well as quantitative reasoning and mathematical analysis skills to solve problems effectively.

Measurement of learning objectives: Homework problem sets and exams will be used regularly to measure understanding of the fundamental concepts presented as well as students’ abilities to apply this understanding to problems in laser physics. Both problem sets and exams also provide an opportunity to evaluate the progression of students’ understanding of physical concepts and problem-solving skills.

Grading:

Homework: 25% (250 pts)

Exam 1 (1h15m) 15% (150 pts)

Exam 2 (1h15m) 15% (150 pts)

Exam 3 (1h15m) 15% (150 pts)

Final Exam (2.5 h) 30% (300 pts)

TOTAL: 100% (1000 pts)

PH581 PH481

A: 90% or above A: 80% or above

B: 80%-89.9% B: 70%-79.9%

C: 70%-79.9% C: 60%-69.9%

D: 60%-69.9% D: 50%-59.9%

F: 59.9% and below F: 49.9% and below

Last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is October 17, 2025.

Your grades and other useful information are available at the Canvas website at http://www.uab.edu/elearning/canvas (only UAB students) as well as at the course web page -(only UAB students) as well as at the course web page https://people.cas.uab.edu/~mirov/SMirov_Teaching_Page2025.htm

The University of Alabama at Birmingham expects all members of its academic community to function according to the highest ethical and professional standards. It will be important that you review and become familiar with the University’s Academic Integrity Code Student Conduct Code.

Tentative Schedule:

	Date	Module	Topics
1	Aug. 25 (Mo)	Module 1. Spontaneous and Stimulated Transitions	Introduction, Spontaneous and Stimulated Transitions (Ch. 1)
2	Aug. 27 (We)		Spontaneous and Stimulated Transitions (Ch. 1) Lecture 1 recording. Lecture 2 recording. Homework 1: PH481 Ch.1 problems 1.4 &1.6. PH581 Ch.1 problems 1.4, 1.6 & 1.8 due Sep.3 before class
	Sep. 1 (Mo) No classes		Labor Day Holiday
3	Sep. 3 (We)	Module 2. Optical Frequency Amplifiers	Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.1-2.4) Problem solving for Ch.1. Lecture 3 recording
4	Sep. 8 (Mo)		Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.5-2.10) Lecture 4 recording
5	Sep. 10 (We)		Optical Frequency Amplifiers (Ch. 2.5-2.10) Lecture 5 recording. Homework 2: PH481 Ch.2 problems 2.2 (a,b), 2.4 & 2.5 (a,b). PH581 Ch.2 problems 2.2 (a,b), 2.4 & 2.5 (a,b,c,d) due Sep.22 before class
6	Sep. 15 (Mo)	Module 3. Introduction to two practical Laser Systems	Problem solving for Ch.2 Introduction to two Practical Laser Systems (The Ruby Laser, The Helium Neon Laser) (Ch. 3) Lecture 6 recording
7	Sep. 17 (We)		Review Chapters 1, 2 & 3
8	Sep. 22 (Mo)		Exam 1 Over Chapters 1-3; Grades for exam 1
9	Sep. 24 (We)	Module 4. Passive Optical Resonators	Exam 1 problem solving. Passive Optical Resonators – Lecture Notes
10	Sep. 29 (Mo)		Passive Optical Resonators – Lecture Notes.
11	Oct. 1 (We)		Passive Optical Resonators – Lecture Notes. Physical significance of c’ and c’’ (Ch.2.8-2.9). Homework 3: read Ch.2 & notes. Work out problems (see Canvas). Due Oct. 8
12	Oct. 6 (Mo)	Module 5. Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media	Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (4.1-2).
13	Oct. 8 (We)		Optical Resonators Containing Amplifying Media (Ch.4.3-4.7) Homework 4: Ch. 4 problems 4.7 and 4.9. Due Oct 15.
14	Oct. 13 (Mo)	Module 6. Laser Radiation	Laser Radiation (Ch. 5.1-5.4)
15	Oct. 15 (We)	Module 7. Control of Laser Oscillations	Control of Laser Oscillators (6.1-6.3) Homework 5: Ch. 5 problems 5.1 and 5.5. Due Oct 29.
16	Oct. 20 (Mo)		Control of Laser Oscillators (6.4-6.5) and exam 2 review
17	Oct. 22 (We)	Module 8. Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers	Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (7.1-7.11)
18	Oct. 27 (Mo)		Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (7.1-7.11)
19	Oct. 29 (We)		Exam 2 Over Chapters 4-6 Grades for exam 2 Exam 2 correct solution; Homework 6 Due Nov.5; see Canvas including article on Cr:CdSe
20	Nov. 3 (Mo)	Module 8. Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers	Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (7.14-7.15)
21	Nov. 5 (We)		Optically Pumped Solid State Lasers (7.16-7.17) Homework 7 (see Canvas) Due Nov. 17
22	Nov. 10 (Mo)	Module 9. Spectroscopy of Common Lasers and Gas Lasers	Spectroscopy of Common Lasers and Gas Lasers (Ch. 8.1-8.10)
23	Nov. 12 (We)	Module10. Molecular Gas Lasers I	Molecular Gas lasers I (Ch. 9.1-9.5)
24	Nov. 17 (Mo)		Molecular Gas lasers I (Ch. 9.1-9.5) Homework 8 (see Canvas) Due Dec. 1
25	Nov. 19 (We)	Module 11. Molecular Gas Lasers II	Molecular Gas Lasers II (Ch. 10.1-10.8) and review for exam 3 (Ch. 10.1-0.8) Homework 9 (see Canvas) Due Dec. 1
	Nov. 24 (Mo) No classes		Thanksgiving - no classes held
	Nov.26 (We) No classes		Thanksgiving - no classes held
26	Dec. 1 (Mo)		Exam 3 Over Chapters 7-10 Grades; Exam 3 Correct solution
27	Dec. 3 (We)		Review for Final
28	Dec. 8 (We) in ESH 3160		FINAL EXAM Over Chapters 1-10 (4:15-6:45pm) in ESH 3160 Final Grades