Introduction to Lasers and Optics

This collection includes materials for the Introduction to Lasers and Optics course that was developed the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education (OP-TEC). This course is intended for "students who have limited prior knowledge of lasers, optics, or photonics. The purpose of the course is to provide entering students with an overview of the technology and its applications." The course includes 15 modules. Course topics include the spectrum of light, laboratory safety, mirrors and lenses, and more. Materials include a 16-page reference guide for instructors and a 25-page student guide with laboratories and demonstrations. The instructor guide includes a brief description of the course, a module outline, reference material, and an equipment list. The reference material provides information about the spectrum of light, lab safety, polarization, light interactions, beam divergence, and more. The student guide includes seven laboratory demonstrations and activities that illustrate course concepts. Laboratory demonstrations include the following: Spectrum of Light, The Polarization of Light, Optical Filters, Prisms and Lenses, Interference and Diffraction with a Single Slit, Interference and Diffraction with a Pinhole, and Beam Divergence. Each lab includes sections on safety, equipment needed, set-up instructions, and instructions for the demonstration. "The demonstrations can be performed with the same equipment used for OP-TECs college level course, Fundamentals of Light and Lasers; the foundation course for Photonics Technology. " Fundamentals of Light and Lasers is available to view separately.Â