Laser-Photonics Courses
Laser-Photonics Technologies for Technologists
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Upcoming Courses
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The following material will be prepared for each course:
Each of the five courses in the five-course series will be offered as a flipped classroom model in a blended format:
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The students will study the material remotely by reviewing the textbook content, watching video lectures, doing assigned homeworks, and engaging with the instructor in the discussions of relevant topics through a Blackboard based online interaction.
The knowledge acquired during the online portion of the course will be examined through an online qualifying exam. Those students who pass the qualifying exam will be qualified to take the hands-on practice workshop offered in the labs at Indian River State College. Upon a successful completion of the workshop and a comprehensive final exam offered at the end of the workshop, the students will be awarded a LASER-TEC approved certification of a successful course completion. In addition to the main course format described above, the course content and corresponding hands–on training may also be reorganized into a format of a full-day or multiple-day workshops. Such workshops may be offered at different conferences, events and venues to target a specific audience that attend those events. LASER-TEC instructional faculty are interested in discussing with the event organizers the intent of such a training with the goal of putting a plan in place for a successful implementation of such a training. |
Course 1. Introduction to Photonics |
Course Description
This course covers the fundamental principles of light such as the terminology of light, behavior of light in different environments, and concepts of light generation and manipulation. The concepts such as reflection, refraction, diffraction, and absorption of light will be explained theoretically and through simple experiments. The course participants will be exposed to basic optical components used in a photonics lab; they will learn how to use various mounts, understand the importance of proper cleaning of the optical components, and how coatings can change properties of an optical component. The course also provides the basic training on the use of a low power laser and optical power meter with the emphasis on laser safety concepts.
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the students will be able to:
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Course 2. Geometrical and Physical Optics |
Course Description
This course teaches principles of geometrical and physical optics that can be applied in the fields of electronics, instrumentation, telecommunications, and biomedical equipment. The first half of the course focuses on the fundamentals of geometrical optics; the participants learn how to manipulate with the light using mirrors and lenses. The theoretical analysis based on ray tracing techniques and mathematical equations will be introduced followed by the lab experiments. In the second half of the course, the audience will dig deeper into the fundamentals of physical optics such as interference patterns through single and double slits, pinholes, and diffraction gratings. The course participants will also be introduced to the basics of laser construction and principles of laser operation. Finally, at the end of the course, both course 1 and course 2 will be summarized for incumbent workers and electronics technicians interested in refreshing their knowledge and skills in the field of photonics.
Pre-requisite: Course 1 – Introduction to Photonics
Pre-requisite: Course 1 – Introduction to Photonics
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the students will be able to:
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Course 3. Fundamentals of Fiber Optics |
Course Description
This course provides a practical, real world perspective on the fundamentals of fiber optic technology and optical data communications. It examines the reasons why optical fibers are the preferred communications medium, surpassing copper wire in all performance measures. A thorough explanation of how fibers work is offered, as well as useful coverage of other related optical components and how those components fit into system-level applications. All important elements of a fiber optic link will be introduced and discussed such as transmitters, optical fiber, and receivers. The course participants will learn about the total internal reflection, types of optical fibers used, the connectors and splices, and finally various types of measurements. Various practical skills that a fiber cable installer needs in the field will be practiced through hands-on experiments including cleaning and visual inspection of the connector end face, installation of the connector on the optical fiber, and splicing of two fibers. Finally, the attendants will be trained to use perform various measurements using visual fault locators, optical loss test set (OLTS), and optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR) equipment.
Pre-requisite: Course 1 – Introduction to Photonics
Pre-requisite: Course 1 – Introduction to Photonics
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the students will be able to:
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Course 4. Laser Systems and Applications |
Course Description
This course builds-on the previously acquired knowledge and skills offered in Courses 1 and 2 of this course series. Advanced concepts of laser construction and operation will be taught including advanced measurement techniques for characterization of various output characteristics of both lower power and high power lasers. The course participants will be given a basic LSO training that includes learning about various laser safety protocols, operating procedures and equipment implemented in a Class 4 laser lab environment. Beam profilers, beam splitters, advanced level power meters, spectrometers and other measurement equipment will be introduced and used in a lab setup. The students will be exposed to the principles and operation of gas lasers (HeNe), ion lasers, semiconductor lasers, fiber optic lasers, and Nd-YAG lasers. A more advanced techniques such as Q-switching, mode locking, and wave division multiplexing will also be studied on theoretical and practical level.
Pre-requisite: Course 1 – Introduction to Photonics, Course 2 – Geometrical and Physical Optics
Pre-requisite: Course 1 – Introduction to Photonics, Course 2 – Geometrical and Physical Optics
Course Learning Outcomes
At the end of this course, the students will be able to:
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Course 5. Introduction to Spectroscopy |
Course DescriptionA detailed description and learning outcomes for this course are still in the works and will be provided when available. All suggestions welcome.
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