Course 2: Laser Systems and Applications

Course Description:
This course, developed by the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education (OP-TEC), is the second of two courses that cover basic photonics concepts. Course 2: Laser Systems and Applications is intended to be a "two semester, hands-on course to support curriculum for education and training photonics systems technicians." Course materials can be used in Associate of Applied Science curricula in two-year colleges or for updating the skills of engineering technicians. Course 1: Fundamentals of Light and Lasers is available to view separately.

Course Contents:
Course materials include a textbook, a textbook supplement for instructors, and two .zip attachments of videos, images, and figures. 

The 437-page textbook includes the following ten modules: Laser Q-Switching, Mode Locking, and Frequency Doubling; Laser Output Characteristics; Laser Types and Their Applications; Carbon Dioxide Lasers and Their Applications; Fiber Lasers and Their Applications; Diode Lasers and Their Applications; Argon-Ion Lasers and Their Applications; Nd:YAG Lasers and Their Applications; Excimer Lasers and Their Applications; and Systems Integration in Photonics. Modules include the following sections: Introduction Prerequisites, Objectives, Basic Concepts, Laboratory, Workplace Scenario, Problem Exercises and Questions, and more.

The 7-page Enhancements and Faculty Tools for Course 2: Laser Systems and Applications is a textbook supplement for instructors. This text includes background information and a list of student assignment videos. The list of videos also includes assignment questions. 

Course 2 Laser Systems and Applications Lab Activity Videos (8).zip includes eight videos and eight video caption files. The videos cover the following topics: introduction to course two; laser q-switching, mode locking, and frequency doubling; measuring laser output characteristics, measuring output of carbon dioxide laser; measurement of CW and pulsed output from a fiber laser; diode lasers and their applications; argon-ion lasers and their applications; and Nd:YAG lasers and their applications. The videos run from 02:42 to 10:14 minutes in length. 

Course-2-Figures-and-Images.zip includes all of the figures and images from the textbook in PDF and PowerPoint formats. Ten PDFs and ten PowerPoints are included, and correspond to each module in the textbook.

Below is a list of the .zip attachments. The number of files in the attachment and the size of the attachment are included in parenthesis. 

Course 2 Laser Systems and Applications Lab Activity Videos (8).zip (18 files, 438.4 MB)
Course-2-Figures-and-Images.zip (21 files, 47.9 MB)