Lecturer: Luca Tartara  

Course name: Nonlinear optics
Course code: 504996
Degree course: Electronic Engineering
Disciplinary field of science: FIS/03
The course relates to:
University credits: ECTS 6
Course website: n.d.

Specific course objectives

The subject of the course is the description of nonlinear interaction of laser with matter aimed to the understanding of the working principles of integrated optical devices performing wavelength conversion, modulation, and logical functions. The applications of nonlinear optics to information technology, environmental monitoring, and biomedical sciences are also treated.

Course programme

Second-order nonlinear phenomena
Nonlinear propagation in the paraxial approximation. Phase-matching conditions. Second harmonic generation. Parametric amplification and oscillation. Wavelength conversion of ultrashort pulses: spectral acceptance, temporal walk-off. Materials for nonlinear optics. Phase-matching techniques.

Third-order nonlinear phenomena
Third harmonic generation. Optical Kerr effect, self focusing, self phase modulation. Four-wave mixing: wavelength conversion, optical phase conjugation.

Ultrashort pulses
Relation between pulsewidth and spectral bandwidth. Nonlinear propagation of ultrashort pulses in optical fibers. Temporal solitons. Measurement of pulsewidth via correlations.

Coherence and correlation
Classical definition of temporal and spatial coherence. Measurement techniques. Definition by Glauber: higher-order correlation functions. Heterodyne technique. Comparison between lasers and conventional light sources.

Spontaneous and stimulated light scattering
Static and dynamic Rayleigh scattering. Raman and Brillouin scattering. Scattering by Brownian and flowing particles. Doppler velocimetry. LIDAR techniques for environmental monitoring. Laser trapping. Biomedical applications. Stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering. Raman amplifiers and oscillators. CARS technique.

Course entry requirements

Basics of electromagnetic theory and photonics

Course structure and teaching

Lectures (hours/year in lecture theatre): 45
Practical class (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0
Practicals / Workshops (hours/year in lecture theatre): 0

Suggested reading materials

G. New. Introduction to Nonlinear Optics. Cambridge University Press, 2011.

R.W. Boyd. Nonlinear Optics. Academic Press, London, 2003.

A. Yariv. Quantum Electronics. Wiley, New York, 1989.

Testing and exams

Oral exam