MIT Understanding Lasers and Fiberoptics

About this film

Lasers are essential to an incredibly large number of applications. Today, they are used in bar code readers, compact discs, medicine, communications, sensors, materials processing, computer printers, data processing, 3D-imaging, spectroscopy, navigation, non-destructive testing, chemical processing, color copiers, laser "shows", and in the military. There is hardly a field untouched by the laser. But what exactly is so unique about lasers that makes them so effective? This brief video course is designed for engineers, scientists, medical personnel, managers, and others who work with lasers and/or fiberoptics, or who anticipate working with lasers and/or fiberoptics, yet have little or no background in laser or fiberoptic basics. The course focuses on fundamentals and emphasizes a physical intuitive interpretation of laser and fiberoptic phenomena and their applications. Because Prof. Ezekiel keeps mathematics to a minimum, the topics covered are easily understood, without the need for a strong technical background. Prof. Ezekiel uses plain language, graphic illustrations, and video demonstrations to explain the basic characteristics of lasers and fiberoptics. High quality versions…

Directors & creators

MIT OpenCourseWare

Subjects

lasers; fiberoptics; unique properties; oscillator; optical amplifiers; simple laser operations; optimum power output; spontaneous emission broadening; collision broadening; Doppler broadening; spectrum of laser light; multifrequency output from lasers; optics of laser beams; manipulation of laser beams; amplifier limitations; laser cavities; single frequency selection; frequency stability of lasers; intensity stability of lasers; laser transverse modes; spectrum of transverse modes; Q-switching of lasers; cavity dumping of lasers; mode locking of lasers; laser categories; optically-pumped lasers; broadband optically-pumped lasers; bandwidth reduction and tuning of broadband lasers; electron-collision-pumped lasers; atom-collision-pumped lasers; chemically-pumped lasers; electron-current-injection-pumped lasers; survey of popular lasers; laser applications; high beam collimation; small spot size; tunable wavelength; narrow spectral width; high intensity; short pulse

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