Nonlinear Optics (PHYS*7140)

Instructor     

Donna Strickland
strickla@uwaterloo.ca   

Text

Nonlinear Optics, Robert. W. Boyd (any edition will do, although 1st edition does not use SI units and I do!)

Marks 

two reports one written, one oral; final exam
    – two reports in same topic, topic not otherwise covered in class - can be something used in your research field, but not your thesis topic
    Because the oral reports are given to entire class, each student must pick a different topic, topics will be assigned on first come basis.

• 1 journal article report        25%
  - pick the defining article for chosen topic 
  By week 3 – submit the topic and title of article
  week 5 – submit abstract about why it is a defining article in the field
  week 7 - submit report
   
• 1 special topics presentation (20 minutes plus 5 for questions)        25%
   Presented during week 10 and 11
  Marking scheme: 
  5% slide quality, 5% organization of talk (easy to follow, stays to time), 5% understanding of topic, 5% thoroughness (cover both theory and experiment), 5% ability to answer questions
   
•   Final Examination (Take Home) given 1 week to complete    50%

Outline

Nonlinear Susceptibility 

• classical description of nonlinear susceptibility (Chpt 1)
• Electro-optic effect (Chpt. 11.1-11.3)
• quantum mechanical description of nonlinear susceptibility (Chpt. 3)
• nonlinear index of refraction (Chpt. 4)
• two level approximation (Chpt 6)

Nonlinear Wave Propagation

• harmonic generation (Chpt. 2)
• intensity dependent refractive index (Chpt.7)
• self-focusing, self-phase modulation, solitons ...
• light scattering (Chpt. 8)
• random parts of chapters 9 and 10