Second-Generation Laser Experiments in Undergraduate Laboratories

虽然激光器（氦氖，氮和染料激光器）已被用于本科教学进行第一代激光实验，Nd：YAG激光器的可用性，高脉冲能量和上级光束质量，为第二代激光实验铺平了道路。化学系和物理系正在采取重要步骤，通过使用Nd：YAG激光器将第二代激光实验纳入实验室课程。六个先进的激光实验最初作为研究项目，后来作为常规实验纳入实验室课程（物理、有机和无机化学和光学）。这些实验改编自最近的教育来源（例如《化学教育杂志》）和研究文献。 Nd：YAG，YAG泵浦染料激光器和FTIR光谱仪的综合使用为本科生提供了广泛的高级实验，涵盖了气相，非线性和低温光谱学领域。实验包括氢、氘、氮和氧的受激拉曼散射（SRS）;空气的相干反斯托克斯拉曼散射（汽车）;火焰中OH自由基的时间分辨激光诱导荧光（LIF）;有机金属化合物的低温基质辅助光解（LTMAP）;二苯甲酮的光还原;以及有机分子的常规拉曼（CRS）和红外光谱。它们大多采用计算机接口、矩形波串平均器和前置放大器沿着、单色器和光电倍增管来扫描、采集和分析光谱数据。这使学生在非黑盒学习环境中接触先进的激光和基于计算机的数据采集技术。总的来说，这些实验升级了光学实验室（物理），并增强了物理、有机和无机化学以及光学课程的课程。

Chemistry (12) While lasers (helium-neon, nitrogen, and dye lasers) have been used in undergraduate pedagogy to conduct first-generation laser experiments, the availability of Nd:YAG lasers, with high pulse energy and superior beam quality, have paved the way for second-generation laser experiments. The departments of chemistry and physics are taking the vital step of incorporating second generation laser experiments into the laboratory curriculum by using Nd:YAG lasers. Six advanced laser experiments are being introduced initially as research projects and later, as regular experiments, into the laboratory courses (physical, organic and inorganic chemistry and optics). These experiments are adapted from both recent educational sources (e.g. Journal of Chemical Education) and from the research literature. The integrated use of Nd:YAG, YAG pumped dye lasers and a FTIR spectrometer facilitates a wide range of advanced experiments for undergraduates, covering the areas of gas-phase, non-linear, and low-temperature spectroscopy. The experiments include stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) of hydrogen, deuterium, nitrogen and oxygen; coherent anti-Stokes Raman (CARS) scattering of air; time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) of OH radicals in flame; low-temperature matrix assisted photolysis (LTMAP) of organometallics; photoreduction of benzophenone; and conventional Raman (CRS) and IR spectroscopy of organic molecules. Most of them use a computer interface, a boxcar averager and a pre-amplifier along with a monochromator and a photomultiplier tube to scan, collect and analyze the spectral data. This exposes students to advanced lasers and to computer-based data acquisition techniques in a non-black box learning environment. Collectively, these experiments upgrade the optics laboratory (physics) and enhance the curriculum in physical, organic, and inorganic chemistry and optics courses.