Summer Semester 2022

Ultrafast Sources

Lecture notes

The course Ultrafast Sources is held by Prof. Francesca Calegari and Prof. Tobias Herr at the University of Hamburg during the Summer Semester 2022.  Below you can find all necessary information:

Lectures: Tue 12:00-13:30 and Th 15:00-16:30, Hybrid: in presence and via zoom;

Recitations: Th 16:45-18:15, In presence;

Start: April 5, 2022:

Content:

  • Linear and nonlinear pulse propagation: Optical solitons and pulse compression;
  • Laser dynamics: single-mode, multi-mode, Q-switching, mode locking;
  • Pulse characterization. Femtosecond laser frequency combs;
  • Stochastic processes and noise in mode-locked lasers;
  • Ultrafast quantum optics, laser amplifiers and parametric amplifiers;
  • Attosecond Sources;

 

If the pandemic situation allows you will have the chance to build your own short pulse fiber laser and characterize it, in three afternoon sessions end of the term.

Course schedule

 5.4.2022     Introduction to Ultrafast Sources

 7.4.2022     Linear Pulse Propagation & Pulse Dispersion: Problem Set 1 Out

12.4.2022     Self-Phase Modulation (SPM) and Solitons

14.4.2022     Dispersion engineering in fibers, waveguides, mirrors: Problem Set 1 Due, problem Set 2 Out

19.4.2022     Maxwell-Bloch Equations and Gain

21.4.2022     Laser Rate Equations, CW-Operation and Relaxation Oscillations: Problem Set 2 Due, Problem Set 3 Out

26.4.2022     Q-Switching

28.4.2022     Mode-Locking: Problem Set 3 Due, Problem Set 4 Out

 3.5.2022     Mode-Locking continued / Soliton perturbation Theory / Kelly Sidebands

 5.5.2022     Stochastic Processes and Noise / Noise in Mode-Locked Lasers: Problem Set 4 Due, Problem Set 5 Out

10.5.2022     Nonlinear Pulse Propagation

12.5.2022     Generalized nonlinear Schrödiinger Equation and Supercontinua: Problem Set 5 Due, Problem 6 Out

17.5.2022     Cascaded four-wave mising, dissipative solitons

19.5.2022     Ultra-high Repetition Rate Femtosecond Sources: Problem Set 6 Due

31.5.2022     Lasers Amplifiers

 2.6.2022     Introduction to Second-order Nonlinear Ineteractions: Build your own shourt pulse fiber laser

 7.6.2022     Optical Parametric Amplification

 9.6.2022     Broadband Parametric Amplification: Build your own short pulse fiber laser

14.6.2022     Femtosecond Laser Frequency Combs

16.6.2022     Pulse Compression: Build your own short pulse fiber laser

21.6.2022     Pulse Compression (Hollow-core, Multi-pass Cavities)

23.6.2022     Pulse Characterization: Autocorrelation, FROG, SPIDER and 2DSI: Build your own short pulse fiber laser

28.6.2022     High-order Harmonic Generation 

 5.7.2022     Advanced attosecond sources

 7.7.2022     Laser Induced Electron Diffraction (LIED): Build your own short pulse fiber laser

12.7.2022     Lab Tours 1

14.7.2022     Lab Tours 2