An introductory course to the theory of lasers; treatment of spontaneous and  stimulated emission, atomic rate equations, laser oscillation conditions,  power output and optimum output coupling; CW and pulsed operation, Q  switching, mode selection, and frequency stabilization; excitation of lasers,  inversion mechanisms, and typical efficiencies; detailed examination of  principal types of lasers, gaseous, solid state, and liquid; chemical lasers,  dye lasers, Raman lasers, high power lasers, TEA lasers, gas dynamic lasers.  Design considerations for GaAlAs, argon ion, helium neon, carbon dioxide,  neodymium YAG and pulsed ruby lasers.    

  Fall semester.       

  Typical text: Yariv, Optical Electronics.