Laser Physics and Modern Optics

该项目使奥斯汀学院物理系能够在新课程“现代光学”中重点关注激光物理和其他现代光学主题。本课程是在最近对学院物理课程的评估和修订中创建的。采购的主要设备包括：用于研究激光器纵向模式结构的光谱分析仪、用于研究腔体稳定性和横向模式结构的外部光腔（在当地建造）、带有氦氖放电管的激光系统、用于研究腔体稳定性和横向模式结构的外部光腔；还有一个声光单元，带有驱动器，用于通信（通过激光束或通过光纤）实验和光速测量。我们正在购买一套精密的计算机系统，配有功能强大的数据采集和分析软件，这将使学生能够利用其他更简单的计算机系统积累经验。该系统允许不是专业程序员的学生构建“虚拟仪器”，执行专门任务，如使用线性CCD传感器记录衍射图样。正在购置一组激光器、光学面包板和其他光学元件，例如可变分束器，以进行这些和其他实验。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在较低水平的课程中使用，并且设备也可供高年级物理学生独立作业使用。美国国家科学基金会的拨款正与来自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.