PY4P06

Module PY4P06 Modern Optics

Cohort: SS Physics, SS Physics and Astrophysics, SS Physics and Computer Simulation, SS Physics and Chemistry of Advanced Materials

Credits: 5

Lecturer: Professors J. Donegan, L. Bradley

Duration: Hilary Term, Optical Properties of Materials 12 lectures, Nonlinear Optics, 12 lectures

Assesment: End of Year Exam.

Description: Part I: Optical Properties of Materials:
Electron oscillator model of the propagation of light in insulators and metals, complex refractive index, absorption coefficient and dispersion. Effect of energy bands on optical properties, direct and indirect bandgap semiconductors. Exciton absorption in semiconductors and insulators. Optical properties of defects and dopants in semiconductors and insulators.

Part II: Nonlinear Optics: Basic concepts: second and third order nonlinear processes and susceptibilities. Materials and microscopic origins of nonlinearity. Applications.