Program Overview

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Course Overview

The course FY8291, Laser Physics and Nonlinear Optics, is a doctoral degree level course that provides an insight into the physical principles of operation of lasers and their applications in various areas of science, medicine, and industry.

Course Details

• Credits: 7.5
• Level: Doctoral degree level
• Course Start: Spring 2026
• Duration: 1 semester
• Language of Instruction: English
• Location: Trondheim

Course Content

The course covers the following topics:

• Energy levels of atoms, semiconductors, and molecules. Selection rules
• Blackbody radiation, classical versus quantum description of interaction of light with matter, semi-classical approach. Wave Equation
• Interaction of light with an atom (non-bound and bound to crystal lattice)
• Absorption, spontaneous emission, and stimulated emission. Einstein coefficients, Einstein formula, saturation, oscillation threshold
• Rate equations for 3- and 4-level lasers
• Semiconductor lasers vs. solid-state & fiber lasers
• Laser line width. Line broadening mechanisms
• Gaussian beams and optical resonators. Operation regimes: CW, Q-switching and mode-locking of lasers
• Principles of nonlinear optics and dispersion management
• Ultra-short pulsed lasers and optical frequency combs
• Nonlinear optical frequency conversion, optical parametric conversion
• Laser applications in science, bio-medicine, telecommunications, and industry.

Learning Outcome

The course provides students with a working knowledge of laser physics and introduces nonlinear optics and laser applications. It offers a physical basis for further study in optics and photonics and the application of lasers in various areas of life, science, and industry.

Acquired Competences

Students should:

• Be familiar with the operation and construction of lasers
• Know about the properties of laser radiation, and how laser beams propagate through optical materials and components
• Know about different types of lasers
• Be familiar with how second-order nonlinear response in crystals can be used to convert laser radiation from one wavelength to another.

Skills

Students should be able to:

• Calculate properties of black body radiation at different temperatures
• Estimate line widths and effective cross sections for different transitions
• Calculate thresholds and output effects in different laser media, and estimate pulse energies and pulse durations in Q-switched lasers
• Calculate how dispersion affects ultra-short laser pulses in optical materials
• Calculate how Gaussian rays propagate in free space
• Choose the laser with the right parameters for specific applications in the field of interest

Learning Methods and Activities

The course includes lectures, laboratory demonstrations, exercises, and project work. The expected workload is 225 hours.

Evaluation

The course evaluation consists of an oral exam (50%) and two works that count for 25% each: lab demonstrations/exercises (25%) and a project work/presentation on a lecture topic of the student's choice (25%).

Recommended Previous Knowledge

Basic knowledge of optics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics is recommended.

Course Materials

Lecture notes and course literature based on e-books available through the NTNU library, and handouts.

Credit Reductions

This course has academic overlap with TFY4291. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject Areas

The course covers various subject areas, including:

• Electronics
• Electronics and Telecommunications
• General Physics
• Medical Physics
• Electrooptics/Biooptics
• Astrophysics
• Radiation Biophysics/Radiation Biology
• Biomedical Engineering
• Polymer Physics
• Molecular Biophysics
• Petrophysics
• Electron and Ion Physics
• Applied Optics
• Electrical Power Engineering
• Petroleum Geophysics
• Radiation Physics
• Biophysics and Medical Technology
• Materials Science and Solid State Physics
• Biophysics
• Solid State Physics
• Quantum Optics
• Optics
• Theoretical Physics
• Physics
• Geophysics
• Engineering
• Nanotechnology
• Life Sciences
• Natural Sciences

Examination

The examination arrangement is an aggregate score, with a grade of Passed/Not Passed. The ordinary examination in Spring 2026 includes an oral exam and two assignments. Re-sit exams are available in August.