510153 - QUANTUM ELECTRONICS AND NONLINEAR OPTICS

courses

ID:

510153

Duration (hours):

94

CFU:

SSD:

FISICA DELLA MATERIA

Year:

2025

Date/time interval

Secondo Semestre (02/03/2026 - 12/06/2026)

Course Objectives

The aim of the first part of the course (Quantum Electronics) is to give a correct quantum-mechanical description of the radiation-matter interaction and provide the physical tools necessary to understand the functioning of LASERs. At the end of the module, the students should possess the main aspects of the radiation-matter interaction and should be able to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the functioning of a LASER oscillator. The subject of the second part of the course (Nonlinear Optics) is the description of nonlinear interaction of laser with matter aimed to the understanding of the working principles of integrated optical devices performing wavelength conversion, modulation, and logical functions. The applications of nonlinear optics to information technology, environmental monitoring, and biomedical sciences are also treated.

Course Prerequisites

The Mathematical and Physical concepts given by the 1st Level Degree (Mechanics and Electromagnetism, Calculus, Geometry and Algebra). In particular, it is essential that students master the techniques of mathematical analysis calculation and the concepts of electromagnetic wave physics. The concepts illustrated in the course of “Fotonica” (Photonics) are important but not essential.

Teaching Methods

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre, blackboard + slides): 48 Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 24 Laboratory: 22

Assessment Methods

The exam consists of an oral discussion and aims at assessing the student comprehension of the contents illustrated during the course.

Texts

D. J. Griffiths. Introduction to Quantum Mechanics (2nd Edition). Pearson Prentice Hall. W. Koechner. Solid.State Laser Engineering (6th Edition). Springer. G. New. Introduction to Nonlinear Optics. Cambridge University Press, 2011. R.W. Boyd. Nonlinear Optics. Academic Press, London, 2003. A. Yariv. Quantum Electronics. Wiley, New York, 1989.

QUANTUM ELECTRONICS Time Independent Perturbation Theory Time Dependent Potentials, Perturbative method Electric Dipole interaction Fermi Golden Rule Absorption, Spontaneous and Stimulated Emission, Einstein’s A and B coefficients 3- and 4-levels systems, rate equations Optical resonators Free running laser operation Q-Switching and Mode-Locking regimes Some representative example of lasers (Gas lasers, Solid-state lasers, Fiber Lasers, Semiconductor Lasers) NONLINEAR OPTICS Second-order nonlinear phenomena Nonlinear propagation in the paraxial approximation. Phase-matching conditions. Second harmonic generation. Parametric amplification and oscillation. Wavelength conversion of ultrashort pulses: spectral acceptance, temporal walk-off. Materials for nonlinear optics. Phase-matching techniques. Third-order nonlinear phenomena Third harmonic generation. Optical Kerr effect, self focusing, self phase modulation. Four-wave mixing: wavelength conversion, optical phase conjugation. Ultrashort pulses Relation between pulsewidth and spectral bandwidth. Nonlinear propagation of ultrashort pulses in optical fibers. Temporal solitons. Measurement of pulsewidth via correlations. Spontaneous and stimulated light scattering Rayleigh scattering. Raman and Brillouin scattering. Doppler velocimetry. LIDAR techniques for environmental monitoring. Stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering. Raman amplifiers and oscillators. CARS technique.