Introduction to lasers – Characteristics: Directionality, Intensity, Monochromaticity, Coherence – Line width and Band width of laser – Einstein’s quantum theory of radiation: Einstein’s coefficients, Inadequacies, Life time and Possibilty of amplification. Optical Processes: Interference-Coherence – Coherence of the field and size of the source- Visibility and size of the source – Kinetics of optical absorption – Shape and width of spectral lines- Line broadening mechanisms: Natural broadening, Collision broadening, Doppler broadening

Population inversion- Laser pumping in two-level system- Vibrational modes of a resonator- Open resonator – Confocal resonator- Quality Factor- Losses inside cavity –Schawlow-Townes condition for laser oscillations – Quantum yield Holography: Principle – Recording of the Hologram – Reconstruction of image – Theory - Distinguishing characteristics – Applications.

Solid state laser: Ruby laser, Nd:YAG laser – Gas Laser: Helium-Neon laser, Ar ion laser, CO2 laser – Semiconductor lasers: Intrinsic semiconductor lasers, Condition for laser action, Injection lasers, Advantages and disadvantages - Liquid laser- Dye laser – HF Chemical laser

Advances: Production of giant pulse-Q switching – Giant pulse dynamics – Laser amplifiers – Mode locked lasers. Laser Induced Phenomena: Laser cooling and trapping of atoms - Pair excitation - Modulation of electron wave by laser - Multiphoton ionization – Single atom detection – Other applications of lasers in various disciplines

Optical fibre – Total internal reflection – Critical angle – Acceptance angle – Numerical aperture – Step index and graded index fibre – Single mode and multimode fibres – V-number – Losses in optical fibre – Distortion – Band width – Fibre optic communication systems and its merits and demerits – Fibre optic sensors – Problem solving.