Laser physics

The laser physics course covers an introductory part of laser physics, which contains optical amplification, interaction of the radiation with matter, absorption and optical gain, creation of a population inversion, and laser rate equations. Particular lasers (solid state, gas, dye, semiconductor, and plasma) are described and the excitation mechanism is explained. In an independent part the optical resonators with the analysis of the transverse and longitudinal modes, resonator configurations, the criterion of resonator stability and resonator mode selection are presented. Safety precautions for the work with lasers are included.

Q-switched Nd3+:SrWO4 Raman laser output

Laser Applications

This course concentrates on lasers in technology (cutting, drilling, welding, hardening, annealing, etc), and medicine (ophthalmology, dermatology, surgery, dentistry, cardiology, etc), including also other branches (laser fusion, laser ranging (laser radar) or pollution (lidar), communication, the military, entertainment, holography, and restoration) are included. Also, excursions to hospitals and companies utilizing lasers are provided.

Laser Techniques Laboratory

Practical training classes are devoted to teaching laser adjustment and characterization of its parameters. The students are familiarized with the solid state Nd:YAG laser (oscillator and amplifier), Q-switched diode-pumped solid state laser, gas laser (CO2), etc.

Longitudinally, diode pumped, dual wavelength, Q-switched/gain switched laser based on combination of Nd:YVO4 and LIF:F-2 crystals (FO-focusing optics, RM-laser rear mirror, OC-laser output coupler)

Faculty and their research interests in this area:

H. Jelínková: Solid state lasers, Raman lasers, short pulse generation, applications in medicine and industry

V. Kubeček: Solid state lasers, femtosecond technique, applications in industry and medicine

M. Čech: Laser electronic circuits, Q-switches

A. Jančárek: Gas and plasma lasers, laser applications

J. Šulc: Solid state tuned lasers, computer simulations

M. Němec: Solid state lasers, delivery of radiation to the target

I. Procházka: Laser applications in ranging, remote sensing, and picosecond timing

The research group has more than thirty years' experience in research and development of solid-state laser systems. The group has developed several tens of laser systems for various applications: laser transmitters for the man-made satellite distance measurements, laser systems for medical applications as the ophthalmology, angioplasty, dermatology, and dentistry. In these days the research is going in flashlamp and diode-pumped solid state lasers from the mid-infrared region, Raman lasers, interaction laser light with the tissue.

The group is cooperating with the research teams in Russia (GPI, Moscow) generation of Stokes radiation (Raman lasers), Poland (MUT, Warsaw) - filed of new diode-pumped solid state lasers, Japan (Tohoku University) - development of new type of hollow waveguides, Greece (Athens University) - applications in medicine, USA (University of New Mexico) - special solid state laser systems for various applications, such as laser gyroscope.

Optical physics courses

The physics and engineering of optics courses cover a broad range of optical phenomena, including those routinely produced and used on Earth in practice, such as optical waves in air and optical materials, light polarization, interference, and diffraction. Exciting optical phenomena also occur naturally in the atmosphere, in natural optical crystals, or in man-made materials, such as diffraction gratings, diffractive structures, holograms, photonic crystals, optical waveguides, or special optical nonlinear materials. Although these effects can often be spectacular, all of these examples can be considered as "classical" optics. The curriculum, however, also covers the very basics of "quantum" optics and electronics, such as interaction of optical field with matter, optical scattering, physics of photodetection, and states of optical field. We also study various applications of optical effects in applied optics and engineering, as, e.g., optical document security, measuring and diagnostics technique, general optical components, and optical information processing, with an ultimate goal of "smart" advanced optical and photonic structures.

Optical physics research

Our research in optical physics is both experimental and theoretical, being concentrated on fundamental and new physical and engineering aspects of wave optics, especially of holography, diffractive optics, Fourier optics, optical recording materials, selected areas of nonlinear optics, synthesis and applications of nanoparticles and nanostructures for optical applications, optical information processing, photonic crystals, and waveguide optics.

Display 3D hologram recorded optically	Rainbow hologram recorded synthetically

Recently, the group of Optical Physics has moved to a newly reconstructed location within the Troja campus with new optical / holographic laboratories. Also, several other laboratories, including e.g. nonlinear optics, photochemistry, and optical diagnostics have been established. The team carries out many theoretical as well as experimental activities on this facility. Our research is internationally recognized. Lately, we have concentrated our theoretical efforts on, e.g., photonic crystals, and experimental efforts towards various aspects of synthetical holography and optical document security applications. Another "hot" topic involves research into quantum optical nanostructures for their potential applications in optics and photonics. We also study the performance of spatial light modulators for both amplitude and phase light modulation. In these areas, we collaborate with several research laboratories (e.g. IREE, Academy of Sciences of Czech Republic) and companies in Czech Republic and also around the world.

The Applied and Engineering Physics students interested in optical physics take part in our research activities in the frame of their School projects or their MSc thesis. The student projects involve, e.g., either electromagnetic modeling of optical and photonic structures, computer design and optimization of diffractive structures, development of modeling tools for various applications in optical physics and photonics (e.g. spatial light modulators, optical correlators and Fourier processors, holographic memories, etc.), or experimental activities in optical and synthetic holography, holographic recording materials, Fourier optics, applications of SLMs to diffractive optics, nonlinear optical structures, and nanostructures for various optical applications.

Beam fanning process in photorefractive nonlinear crystal of barium titanate.

Faculty and their research interests in this area:

P. Fiala: Classical and synthetic holography, diffractive optics, Fourier optics, optical information processing, nonlinear optics

A. Fojtík: Synthesis and applications of nanoparticles and nanostructures

I. Richter: Diffractive optics, diffraction gratings, photonics crystals, electromagnetic modeling, nonlinear optics

M. Škereň: Computer-generated holography, diffractive optics, optical document security, Fourier optics

M. Květoň: Holographic recording materials, photopolymers, photoresists