Equipment for Laboratory for Modern Optics Using the Comprehensive Unified Physics Learning Environment

我们将光通信领域的现有技术与基于计算机的综合学习环境相结合，以中等成本将信息时代的光学技术引入本科实验室。单片锁模半导体激光器和稀土掺杂光纤放大器的最新进展为将高重复率的亚皮秒光脉冲引入本科实验室提供了一种易于维护且成本相对较低的方法。脉冲持续时间短，峰值强度高，使得以前除了少数研究工作者和高级研究生之外无法进行的大量实验，可以为本科生提供。这种技术与计算机化学习环境相结合，为本科生以图形化和易于理解的方式教授高数据速率光通信的许多科学和技术提供了一种手段。综合统一物理学习环境（CUPLE）的一致用户界面采用不同的媒体，如实验室仪器，数据阵列，图形显示和视频记录提供了一个强大的，但是易于使用的教学工具既可以传达戏剧，也可以传达这个快速发展地区的相对简单的概念。这一领域技术的迅速发展表明，可靠性和操作便利性的进一步提高以及成本的降低将使大量用户能够以合理的成本获得这种学习环境。

We are combining current technology obtained from the field of optical communications with a comprehensive computer-based learning environment as a means of bringing information age optical technology into the undergraduate laboratory at moderate cost. Recent advances in monolithic modelocked semiconductor lasers and rare earth doped optical fiber amplifiers are providing an easily maintained and relatively low cost means of introducing subpicosecond optical pulses produced at high repetition rate into the undergraduate laboratory. The short duration of the pulses and the high peak intensities make a large number of experiments that have not been previously available except to a small number of research workers and advanced graduate students, accessible to undergraduate students. This technology combined with the computerized learning environment provides a means for much of the science and technology underlying high data rate optical communications to be taught to undergraduates in a graphic and easily understood manner. The consistent user interface of the CUPLE (Comprehensive Unified Physics Learning Environment) employed across different media, such as, laboratory instruments, data arrays, graphical displays, and video recordings provides a powerful, but easily accessed teaching tool for conveying both the drama and the relatively simple concepts that characterize this rapidly developing area. The rapid evolution of technology in this field suggests that further increases in reliability and ease of operation and reduction in costs will make this learning environment available to a large number of users at reasonable cost.