Laser Physics and Modern Optics

这个项目使奥斯汀学院的物理系能够在一门新课程--现代光学--中重点关注激光物理和其他现代光学主题。这门课程是在最近对学院物理课程的评估和修订中创建的。购买的主要设备包括用于研究激光器纵模结构的光谱分析仪、具有氦-霓放电管的激光系统(在本地建造)以及用于研究腔稳定性和横模结构的外部光学腔，以及具有驱动器的声光单元，用于通信(通过激光束或通过光纤)实验和光速测量。正在购买一套先进的计算机系统，该系统配有强大的数据采集和分析软件，这将使学生能够利用其他较简单的计算机系统的经验。该系统允许不是专业程序员的学生构建执行特殊任务的“虚拟仪器”，例如使用线阵ccd传感器记录衍射图。正在获得一组激光器、光学面板和附加的光学部件，例如可变分束器，以执行这些和其他实验。这些研究是在一门特定的课程中进行的，但一些实验的简化版本正被用于较低级别的课程，这些设备也适用于从事独立工作的较高级别的物理学生。NSF的拨款与非联邦来源的资金相匹配。

This project is enabling the Physics Department at Austin College to place significant emphasis on laser physics and other modern optics topics in a new course, Modern Optics. This course was created in a recent evaluation and revision of the physics curriculum at the College. Major equipment being purchased include an optical spectrum analyzer to study the longitudinal mode structure of lasers, laser systems (constructed locally) with helium-neon discharge tubes and, external optical cavities to study cavity stability and transverse mode structures, and an acousto-optic cell with driver to be used for communications (over a laser beam or through an optical fiber) experiments and speed of light measurements. A sophisticated computer system with powerful software for data acquisition and analysis is being purchased which will allow building on students' experience with other simpler computer systems. This system allows students who are not expert programmers to build "virtual instruments" which perform specialized tasks such as recording diffraction patterns using a linear CCD sensor. A group of lasers, optical breadboards, and additional optical components, e.g., a variable beamsplitter, are being acquired to carry out these and other experiments. These studies are being conducted in a specific course, but simplified versions of some experiments are being used in lower level courses, and the equipment is also available for upper level physics students doing independent work.NSF grant funds are being matched with funds from non-federal sources.