Elements of Photonics
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Course 2 Elements of Photonics OPTICS AND PHOTONICS SERIES © 2008 CORD This document was produced in conjunction with the STEP project—Scientific and Technological Education in Photonics—an NSF ATE initiative (grant no. 0202424). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation. For more information about the project, please contact any of the following persons: Dan Hull, PI, Executive Director National Center for Optics and Photonics Education 316 Kelly Drive Waco, TX 76710 (245) 751-9000 [email protected] Dr. John Souders, Director of Curriculum National Center for Optics and Photonics Education 316 Kelly Drive Waco, TX 76710 (245) 751-9000 [email protected] Published and distributed by OP-TEC 316 Kelly Drive Waco, TX 76710 (245) 751-9000 http://www.op-tec.org/ ISBN 1-57837-398-0 PREFACE The six instructional modules (chapters) contained in this text are designed for use by students and instructors involved in the preparation of technicians in the areas of optics, electro-optics, lasers, and photonics. The materials can be used as an introductory course in AAS programs in laser/electro-optics and photonics at two-year postsecondary community and technical colleges. They can also be used in conjunction with supplementary laser/electro-optics courses in related engineering technology programs such as electronics, instrumentation, telecommunications, and biomedical equipment, as well as in programs designed to retrain or update the skills of engineering technicians who are already employed. The modules can be used as a unit or independently, as long as prerequisites have been met. The materials were developed under NSF ATE grant number 0202424 (Scientific and Technological Education in Photonics—STEP II). Content specifications were determined from The National Photonics Skills Standards for Technicians, also developed (1995) and updated (2003) under the STEP project. Colleges that are creating or revising curricula in this field will benefit from using the skill standards document, which can be downloaded in PDF format from http://utopia.cord.org/STEPII/. To learn the technical content in the modules, students should be fluent in specific mathematical concepts in algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and statistics. For students who may need assistance with or review of the necessary concepts, a student review and study guide entitled Mathematics for Photonics Education (available from CORD) is highly recommended. Acknowledgments The following persons produced the original manuscripts of the six modules: William P. Latham (Albuquerque, New Mexico) (Modules 2-1 and 2-2) Jack Ready (formerly with Honeywell Technology) (Modules 2-3 and 2-6) Nick Massa (Springfield Technical Community College) (Module 2-4) Harley Myler (Lamar University) (Module 2-5) Leno Pedrotti of CORD provided editorial oversight for the entire course. CONTENTS Module 2-1: Operational Characteristics of Lasers Module 2-2: Specific Laser Types Module 2-3: Optical Detectors and Human Vision Module 2-4: Principles of Optical Fiber Communication Module 2-5: Photonic Devices for Imaging, Display, and Storage Module 2-6: Basic Principles and Applications of Holography Operational Characteristics of Lasers Module 2-1 of Course 2, Elements of Photonics OPTICS AND PHOTONICS SERIES PREFACE This is the first module in Course 2 (Elements of Photonics) of the STEP curriculum. Following are the titles of all six modules in the course: 1. Operational Characteristics of Lasers 2. Specific Laser Types 3. Optical Detectors and Human Vision 4. Principles of Fiber Optic Communication 5. Photonic Devices for Imaging, Display, and Storage 6. Basic Principles and Applications of Holography The six modules can be used as a unit or independently, as long as prerequisites have been met. This module relies heavily on Module 1-6, Principles of Lasers. A comprehensive understanding of the concepts presented in all of the modules in Course 1 (Fundamentals of Light and Lasers) is needed for this module. For students who may need assistance with or review of relevant mathematics concepts, a review and study guide entitled Mathematics for Photonics Education (available from CORD) is highly recommended. The original manuscript of this document was prepared by William P. Latham (Albuquerque, New Mexico) and edited by Leno Pedrotti (CORD). Formatting and artwork were provided by Mark Whitney and Kathy Kral (CORD). CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Prerequisites .................................................................................................................................... 2 Objectives ........................................................................................................................................ 2 Scenario ........................................................................................................................................... 2 Basic Concepts ................................................................................................................................ 3 The Amazing Laser ..................................................................................................................... 3 Basic Relationships for Laser Energy and Operation ................................................................. 4 Photon energy .......................................................................................................................... 4 Laser power on target .............................................................................................................. 4 Laser gain volume ................................................................................................................... 5 Laser energy amplification ...................................................................................................... 5 Laser optical cavity ................................................................................................................. 7 Pulse properties of a laser...................................................................................................... 13 Mode formation in lasers ....................................................................................................... 17 Transverse modes .................................................................................................................. 19 The Helium-Neon Laser ............................................................................................................ 22 Excitation mechanism ........................................................................................................... 22 Gain medium ......................................................................................................................... 22 Optical cavity ........................................................................................................................ 23 Calculation of several operational characteristics ................................................................. 25 Laboratory ..................................................................................................................................... 28 Exercises ........................................................................................................................................ 33 References ..................................................................................................................................... 34 COURSE 2: ELEMENTS OF PHOTONICS Module 2-1 Operational Characteristics of Lasers INTRODUCTION This module on the operational characteristics of lasers presents a review of some of the basic concepts regarding energy, lasers, and amplification presented in Module 1-6, Principles of Lasers, of Course 1, Fundamentals of Light and Lasers. Following this brief review, the module focuses on useful relationships that describe the operation of a laser—involving such concepts as small signal gain, saturation, threshold gain, and power out. With the operational equations in hand, the module then selects a specific laser type—the Helium-Neon laser—as a “case study.” The HeNe laser and its characteristics are described in a “fact sheet,” and several important operational parameters are calculated, using the operational equations developed in the first part of the module. The companion module that follows (Module 2-2, Specific Laser Types) overviews many of the existing lasers classified as (1) atomic gas lasers, (2) molecular gas lasers, (3) liquid lasers, (4) solid-state lasers, and (5) semiconductor lasers. Again, as was done for the HeNe laser in this module, “fact sheets” and calculations of interacting operational parameters will be presented in Module 2-2. Recall that a laser is a special kind of light source. It can produce highly directional light with a high brightness within a very narrow range of wavelengths. Its properties differ significantly from those of ordinary light. Recall that the special properties of laser light include the following: A nearly monochromatic (single wavelength) beam of light A light beam, small in cross section, with a wide range of output powers A coherent beam of light that spreads very little in propagation A beam of light that can shine continuously or for short periods of time