Nonlinear Optics

(3-0-0-3)

CMPE Degree: This course is Not Applicable for the CMPE degree.

EE Degree: This course is Not Applicable for the EE degree.

Lab Hours: 0 supervised lab hours and 0 unsupervised lab hours.

Technical Interest Group(s) / Course Type(s): Optics and Photonics

Course Coordinator:

Prerequisites: None.

Catalog Description

Provides an introduction to the field of nonlinear optics, exploring the
physical mechanisms, applications, and experimental techniques.

Textbook(s)

Nonlinear Optics

Course Outcomes

Not Applicable

Strategic Performance Indicators (SPIs)

Outcome 1 (Students will demonstrate expertise in a subfield of study chosen from the fields of electrical engineering or computer engineering):
1. Develop working knowledge on nonlinear optical processes such as three-wave mixing, optical Kerr effect, Raman effect, etc.

Outcome 2 (Students will demonstrate the ability to identify and formulate advanced problems and apply knowledge of mathematics and science to solve those problems):
1. Analyze the phase matching condition and conversion efficiency of various wave mixing and harmonic generation processes.

Outcome 3 (Students will demonstrate the ability to utilize current knowledge, technology, or techniques within their chosen subfield):
1. Understand the application of nonlinear optics in the generation of new spectral components, active control of light, material characterization, etc.

Topical Outline

Introduction --- Interaction of light with linear and nonlinear media.

Light propagation in linear media -- a review.
Classical models of atomic polarizability.
Electromagnetic theory of nonlinear interactions.

Nonlinear susceptibilities.

Susceptibility tensors.
Classical models of nonlinear polarization.
Classification of media.

Second order processes

Susceptibility representation.
Coupled wave equations for general three-wave mixing.
Energy and momentum conservation, phase matching.
Special cases.
Second harmonic generation
Parametric mixing and oscillation.
Optical rectification.
Experimental considerations.
Second order susceptibility measurement techniques.
Ultrashort pulse measurement.

Third order processes.

Susceptibility representation.
Optical Kerr effect.
Four-wave mixing.
Non-degenerate mixing with general beam geometries.
Phase conjugation with degenerate and non-degenerate mixing.
Light-induced grating phenomena.
Raman effect.
Harmonic oscillator model.
Spontaneous and stimulated scattering.
Stimulated scattering in optical fibers.
Raman spectroscopy.
Stimulated Brillouin scattering.
Self-focusing.
Experimental considerations.
Third order susceptibility measurement techniques.

Nonlinear optics under pulsed excitation.

Motivation and complications of pulsed operation.
Material response times.
Mathematical construction of time-varying polarization amplitudes.
Nonlinear Schrodinger equation.
Applications.
Self- and cross-phase modulation.
Frequency continuum generation.

Temporal and spatial solitons.
Pulse compression.
Nonlinear pulse propagation in fibers.
Time-resolved measurements of material properties.