PHYS 953 Quantum and Nonlinear Optics
Class files including lecture notes, tutorials and miniprojects can be found here.
The class schedule can be found below.
Lecture: M/W/F, 12:30-1:30 a.m. Willard 25
Textbooks: Nonlinear Optics, Boyd; Introductory Quantum Optics, Gerry and Knight;
Suggested References: Introduction to Quantum Optics, From Light Quanta to Quantum Teleportation, Paul; The Quantum Challenge, Greenstein and Zajonc; Quantum Optics, Walls and Milburn; Coherence and Quantum Optics, Mandel and Wolf; Nonlinear Optics, Shen; Nonlinear Fiber Optics, Agrawal; Handbook of Nonlinear Optics, Sutherland; Handbook of Nonlinear Optical Crystals, Dmitriev, Gurzadyan, and Nikogosyan; Electromagnetic Noise and Quantum Optical Measurements, Haus;
Instructor: Dr. Brian R. Washburn, CW 36B, (785) 532-2263, washburn@phys.ksu.edu. Office hours: M/W/F 9:30-10:30 PM or by appt.
Prerequisites: A solid foundation in undergraduate-level quantum mechanics, electromagnetism, and optics.
Course Objective: The purpose of this course is to provide an introduction to the field of nonlinear optics, exploring the physical mechanisms, applications, and experimental techniques. Furthermore the fundamentals of quantum optics will be taught in the second half in this course. Connections between quantum and nonlinear optics will be highlighted throughout the semester. My goal is for students to end up with a working knowledge of nonlinear optics and a conceptual understanding of the foundations of quantum optics.
Grading:
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Exam 1 |
150 pts |
300 pts |
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Exam 2 |
150 pts |
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Mini-Projects |
500 pts |
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Final Project |
200 pts |
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Total possible |
1000 pts |
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Exams: There will be two exams during the semester. The format will be a take-home exam to be completed over 24 hours.
Mini-Projects: Problems in nonlinear and quantum optics are quite involved, so traditional homework assignments will not properly teach the material. So, the homework for this course will be in the form of mini-projects. The mini-projects will be a detailed solution of interconnected problems related to lecture topics. The problems will need to be solved using resources beyond the textbook and class notes. The purpose of the mini-projects is to mimic problem-solving scenarios found in a research environment.
There will be between 5-7 mini-projects, each given with two or more weeks for completion. Working on the mini-projects in groups is strongly encouraged, but you will need to write up the assignment on your own.
Final Project: There will be a final project for the class but no final exam. The final project will be an investigation of a topic or problem in the areas of nonlinear and quantum optics, that will involve a literature search and some original work. The final project will consist of three parts:
Part 1: Abstract and bibliography Part 2: 6 page paper plus references Part 3: 15 minute presentation
Late Projects: No project will be accepted after its due date unless prior arrangements have been made. Sorry! Please inform me with possible conflicts before the due date, and other arrangements will be made (if you ask really nicely).
Tentative Course Schedule, Nonlinear and Quantum Optics, PHYS 953, Fall 2007
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Date |
Topic |
Chapters |
Projects |
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Aug. 20 (M) |
Introduction to nonlinear optics ―Class overview, review of linear optics and the semi-classical treatment of light |
B1 |
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Aug. 22 (W) |
―Review of material dispersion: stuff you should know already |
B1 |
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Aug. 24 (F) |
―The nonlinear susceptibility: formal definitions |
B1 |
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Aug. 27 (M) |
―The nonlinear susceptibility: analogy to anharmonic motion |
B1 |
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Aug. 29 (W) |
―The nonlinear susceptibility: properties of materials |
B1 |
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Aug. 31 (F) |
―Symmetry and nonlinear optical properties |
B1 |
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Sept. 3 (M) |
No Class |
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Sept. 5 (W) |
―The Maxwell’s wave equation in a nonlinear medium |
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Sept. 7 (F) |
Second order nonlinear effects ―Second harmonic generation |
B2 |
MP1 Due |
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Sept. 10 (M) |
―Phase matching in second harmonic crystals |
B2 |
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Sept 12 (W) |
―Second harmonic generation with ultrashort pulses |
B2 |
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Sept. 14 (F) |
―Difference and sum frequency generation |
B2 |
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Sept. 17 (M) |
―Parametric amplification in crystals, optical parametric oscillators* |
B2 |
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Sept. 19 (W) |
―Quasi-phasematching in periodically poled materials |
B2 |
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Sept. 21 (F) |
Applications for second harmonic generation ―Ultrashort pulse measurement: intensity and interferometric autocorrelators |
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Sept. 24 (M) |
―Ultrashort pulse measurement: FROGs, SPIDERs, and TADPOLEs |
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Sept. 26 (W) |
Carrier-envelope phase measurement: the f-to-2f interferometer |
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Sept. 28 (F) |
Third order nonlinear effects ―Intensity dependent refractive index; four-wave mixing |
B4 |
MP2 Due |
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Oct. 1 (M) |
No Class |
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Oct. 3 (W) |
―Pulse propagation in a third order nonlinear medium: nonlinear fiber optics |
Exam 1 |
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Oct 4 (U) |
Exam 1 Due |
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Oct. 5 (F) |
―Nonlinear fiber optics: solitons and similaritons |
B4, B13 |
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Oct. 8 (M) |
―Spatial third order effects: self focusing and light bullets* |
B4, B13 |
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Oct. 10 (W) |
Applications of third order effects and high-intensity lasers ―Short pulse generation using nonlinear effects |
B13 |
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Oct. 12 (F) |
―Nonlinear pulse compression in gases |
B13 |
MP3 Due |
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Oct. 15 (M) |
Spontaneous and stimulated Raman scattering* ―Spontaneous Raman scattering |
B9 |
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Oct. 17 (W) |
―Stimulated Raman scattering in third order media, CARS spectroscopy* |
B9 |
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Oct. 19 (F) |
Introduction to quantum optics ―What is a photon? The Hanbury-Brown and Twiss experiment |
G1 |
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Oct. 22 (M) |
―What is a photon? The Aspect experiments |
G1 |
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Oct. 24 (W) |
Field quantization and coherent states ―Quantization of a single mode field |
G2 |
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Oct. 26 (F) |
―Vacuum fluctuations and the zero-point energy |
G2 |
MP4 Due |
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Oct. 29 (M) |
―The quantum phase |
G3 |
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Oct. 31 (W) |
―Coherent states: light waves as harmonic oscillators |
G3 |
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Nov. 2 (F) |
―Properties of coherent states, phase-space pictures |
G3 |
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Nov. 5 (M) |
―Review of the density operator, phase-space probability functions |
G3 |
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Nov. 7 (W) |
Emission and absorption of radiation by atoms ―Atom-field interactions: classical and quantized fields |
G4, B6 |
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Nov. 9 (F) |
―Optical Bloch equations, the Rabi model |
G4, B6 |
MP6 Due |
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Nov. 12 (M) |
―Ramsey fringes, the Jaynes-Cumming model* |
Exam 2 |
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Nov. 13 (T) |
Exam 2 Due |
Final Project Part 1Due |
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Nov. 14 (W) |
Nonclassical light* ―Squeezed states, applications of squeezing in gravity wave detection |
G7 |
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Nov. 16 (F) |
―Squeezing and nonlinear fiber optics |
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Nov. 19 (M) |
Bell’s theorem and quantum entanglement ―EPR Paradox and Bell’s Theorem |
G9 |
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Nov. 21 (W) |
No Class |
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Nov. 23 (F) |
No Class |
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Nov. 26 (M) |
―Bell’s Theorem and the Aspect experiment |
G9 |
MP5 Due |
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Nov. 28 (W) |
―Violation of Bell’s theorem using an optical parametric amplifier |
G9 |
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Nov. 30 (F) |
Optical tests of quantum mechanics ―The Hong-Ou-Mandel interferometers |
G9 |
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Dec. 3 (M) |
―Quantum beats, quantum demolition measurements |
Final Project Part 2 Due |
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Dec. 5 (W) |
―The Franson experiment |
G9 |
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Dec 7 (F) |
Final Project Presentation |
Final Project Part 3 Due |
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Dec 10 (M) |
Final Project Presentation, final exam period 4:10 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. |
Final Project Part 3 Due |
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Books: B= Boyd, Nonlinear Optics, G= Gerry and Knight, Introductory Quantum Optics; * denotes a topic that may be replaced with something much more interesting