This is a shortened version of the Introduction to Practical Experimental Optics and Microscopy course.
Lecturer: Andrea Di Falco, Wiliam Whelan-Curtin
Institution: St Andrews
Hours Equivalent Credit: 27
Assessment: Tutorials
Video conferences :
Video conference shared with all SUPA video classrooms where there are students enrolled.
Course Summary
Nanophotonics deals with structured materials on the nanoscale for the manipulation of light. Photonic crystals and plasmonic metamaterials are hot topics in contemporary photonics. The properties of these materials can be designed to a significant extent via their structure. Many of the properties of these nanostructured materials can be understood from their dispersion diagram or optical bandstructure, which is a core tool that will be explored in the module. Familiar concepts such as optical waveguides and cavities, multilayer mirrors and interference effects will be used to explain more complex features such as slow light propagation and high Q cavities in photonic crystal waveguides. Propagating and localised plasmons will be explained and will include the novel effects of super-lensing and advanced phase control in metamaterials.
This course is aimed at students with a grounding in optical theory but seeking to expand their lab skills in optics and imaging.
It covers:
- basic design, construction and precision alignment of experiments from kit optical components (e.g. Thorlabs components)
- understanding of microscope objective lenses and their properties for optical experiments
- hands-on use of a variety of microscope and camera systems
- understanding of camera properties such as read noise, and selection of optimal camera technology
- designing and constructing with laser safety in mind
This in-person, practical lab course will take place over a number of days in Glasgow.
