University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 20

ECTS credits : 10

Level : SCQF level 11

Semester: 1

Planned timetable: 10.00 am Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu (TBC)

This module presents a description of the main physical concepts upon which an understanding of laser materials, operations, and applications can be based. These concepts include a treatment of light-matter interaction, gain, absorption and refractive index, rate-equation theory of lasers, gain and its saturation, frequency selection and tuning in lasers, transient phenomena, resonator and beam optics, and the principles and techniques of ultrashort pulse generation and measurement.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 4 lectures/tutorials each week.

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 2.5-hour open-notes Examination = 80%, Coursework = 20%


Re-assessment: Oral Re-assessment, capped at grade 7

Personnel