Syllabus Legend
Topics of recommended emphasis are listed
Reading: assigned sections from Milonni+Eberly are indicated while the sections in parenthesis are recommended. The written notes must include the material in the assigned sections but not necessarily the recommended sections. SX.Y, StX.Y, VX.Y and LevX.Y indicates a section in Siegman, Steck, Verdeyen and Levenson respectively.
For supplemental reading sections go here
The discussion questions are posted here Discussion Leader assignments
1. Richard Wong
2. Hadi Ebrahimnejad
3. Eric Vyskocil
4. Rob Stead
5. Steven Gou
6. Ray Gao
7. Ryan Lewis Monday, Jan. 7: meeting #1 - [0]
Course Overview: textbooks, course organization, syllabus.
Classical Picture of Atom-Field Interaction
Thursday, Jan. 10: meeting #2 - [0]
Introduction and classical picture of atom-field interaction: classical dipole in a periodic field, Lorenz model, polarizability, index of refraction
Reading: 1.all, 2.1-2.3 (2.4, S1.all and S2.1) meeting notes: 1
Homework #1 Assigned: Problems 2.10, 2.12, 3.4, and 3.10
Thursday, Jan. 17: meeting #4 - [2,3]
Classical theory of absorption: absorption coefficient and cross-section, absorption line shape and line width, oscillator strength
Physical mechanisms of line broadening: examples of homogeneous (collisional) and inhomogeneous (Doppler) line broadening
Reading: 3.5-3.12 (3.13, S3.1) meeting notes: 3 example problem: 3
Semiclassical Atom-Field Interaction: Quantum Mechanical Atoms in Classical Fields
Tuesday, Jan. 22: meeting #5 - [3,4]
The time independent and time-dependent SE: energy level structure, interaction Hamiltonian, vector form of SE, matrix elements of the dipole moment operator
Reading: 5.all (review), 6.1, 6.2 meeting notes: 4
Tuesday, Jan. 29: meeting #7 - [4,0] - Homework #1 due
Quantum mechanical atom in a periodic field: two-level system, equations of motion for state amplitudes, rotating wave approximation, Rabi oscillations, connections with the Lorentz model
Reading:6.3, 6.4, 6.A, Lev:2.1-2.2, V14.1-14.4 (S5.all) meeting notes: 5
Thursday, Jan. 31: meeting #8 - [0,5]
Relaxation in quantum picture: density matrix, equations of motion for density matrix (the Master equation), decay of populations and decay of coherence, Rabi oscillations in the presence of relaxation, the Optical Bloch Equations
Reading: 6.5, 8.1, 8.2, and Lev:2.1-2.4, V14.5-14.8 meeting notes: 6 example problem: 6
Tuesday, Feb. 5: meeting #9 - [5,6]
Rate equations: cross section for absorption and stimulated emission, Einstein A and B coefficients, weak and strong excitation limits, saturation, thermal equilibrium radiation, relations between the A and B coefficients
Reading: 7.all (S4.5) meeting notes: 7 example problem: 7
Semiclassical Laser Theory
Friday, Feb. 8: - 9.30-11.00 - meeting #10 - [6,7] - *** Rescheduled time ***
Maxwell-Bloch equations, light amplification, quantum-classical corespondence, slowly varying envelope approximation
Semiclassical laser theory: lasing, coupled equations for photons and atoms in the cavity, threshold conditions
Reading: 8.1-8.5 meeting notes: 8
example problem: 8.1 from the book
