Ultrafast Optics

The lecture is intended to deliver fundamental insights into the field of short laser pulse techniques and their applications.

With the ultrafast optics technology, the femtosecond and recently also attosecond time scale processes became available for researchers, not only in physics, but also chemistry, biology and material engineering.

I will start with the basic concepts behind ultrashort pulse generation and amplification, then will cover a range of techniques used in ultrafast metrology (pulse diagnostics) and finally present the most spectacular application in science and technology.

The lecture may be of interest not only for students of experimental optics, but also to solid state physicists, chemists and biologists using ultrafast measurement techniques in their research.

1. Introduction to short laser pulses and ultrafast optics.

2. Ultrashort light pulses

3. Ultrashort pulse generation

4. Ultrashort pulseamplification

5. Ultrafast sepctroscopy

6. Dispersion, pulse propagation

7. Pulse shaping

8. Nonlinear optics

9. Coherent control

10. 2nd/3rd order effects, phase matching

11. Autocorrelation, FROG

12. SPIDER

13. Atto pulses, material processing

The lecture has a few components in mixed proportions:

1. Recorded lectures, available at a YT channel (to be watched before the meetings).

2. Live lectures/meetings in the classroom.

3. Home assignments that are to be presented and discussed in the classroom.

4. Laboratory tours, demonstrating the covered concepts and devices in real life.

After completing the course, a student gains the following:

KNOWLEDGE

1. Knows the most important terms and concepts in ultrafast optics.

2. Knows the basic experimental techniques in ultrafast optics.

SKILS

1. Can qualitatively explain physical phenomena related to ultarafst optics.

2. Is able to analyze the working principles behind devices and apparata used in ultrafast optics experiments.

BASICS

1. Recognizes principles of planning and conducting scientific experiments.

2. Appreciates the importance of experimetal ultrafast optics for present and future culture.

Final written exam: open and closed questions, including drawing simple schemes and diagrams.

Live lecture attendance.