ECE 455 Class Calendar (NOTE THIS IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)

 

January 2026
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MLK Day

 

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First Day of Instruction 

Introduction, Review of Electromagnetism

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 1.1-1.7,1.9

Silfvast (O): 1.1,2.1-2.4

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Ray Tracing, ABCD Matrices, Cavity Stability Criterion

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 2.1-2.5,2.12

Silfvast (O): 12.1

 

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Paraxial Wave Equation, Gaussian Beams

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 3.1-3.3

Silfvast (O): 12.2-12.3

 

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Gaussian Beams, Higher Order Modes, ABCD Law

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 3.4-3.7

Silfvast (O): 12.4

Homework 1. Due Feb. 5.

Basic Mathematica matrix multiplier.

Basic Matlab matrix multiplier.

Basic Matlab matrix multiplier.

Please submit a *.pdf before the start of class. Submit to the BOX folder we e-mailed you about. Make sure your work is legible.

Homework 1 Solutions.

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February 2026
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Fundamental Mode in an Optical Cavity, ABCD Law and Cavities, Resonant Cavities

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 5.1-5.3,6.1-6.2

Silfvast (O): 10.1-10.2

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Resonant Optical Cavities, Fabry-Pérot Etalons

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 6.3-6.7

Silfvast (O): 10.1-10.2

Homework 2. Due Feb. 12.

Homework 2 Solutions.

 

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Resonant Optical Cavities, Fabry-Pérot Etalons, Higher Oder Modes, M2, Gain/Loss in a Cavity

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 6.3-6.7

Silfvast (O): 10.1-10.2

 

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Blackbody Radiation, Einstein Coefficients, Lineshape Function

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 7.1-7.4

Silfvast (O): 6.1-6.4

Homework 3. Due Feb. 19.

Homework 3 Solutions.

 

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Lineshape, Gain, Branching Ratio, Spectral Broadening

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 7.5-7.6,8.1-8.3

Silfvast (O): 4.1-4.3,7.1-7.6

 

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Gain, Traveling Wave Amplifiers, 3- and 4-Level Systems, Saturation

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 7.5-7.6,8.1-8.3

Silfvast (O): 4.1-4.3,7.1-7.6

Homework 4. Due Feb. 26.

Homework 4 Solutions.

 

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Homogeneously Broadened Gain Media, More on Gain, Multi-Level Systems and Rate Equations, Transparency, Time Domain, Introduction to Lasing Condition

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 8.1-8.3

Silfvast (O): 7.1-7.6

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Gain in Inhomogeneously Broadened Media

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 8.4-8.6

Silfvast (O): 7.7-7.8

Homework 5. Due Mar. 9.

Homework 5 Solutions.

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March 2026
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EXAM #1 IN CLASS

Formula sheet to be provided with exam.

WILL ONLY COVER MATERIAL THROUGH FEB. 24

Exam 1 Solutions.

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Laser Oscillation, Ring Laser, Output Power, Laser Efficiency

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 9.1-9.3

Silfvast (O): 8.1-8.3

Homework 6. Due Mar. 12.

Homework 6 Additional Background

Homework 6 Solutions.

 

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Standing Wave Laser (2 Mirror), Laser Efficiency, Output Power, Simplified Rigrod Analysis

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 9.1-9.3

Silfvast (O): 8.1-8.3

 

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Laser Dynamics, Build-Up Time, Relaxation Oscillations

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 9.1-9.3

Silfvast (O): 8.1-8.3

Supplemental Notes

Homework 7. Due Mar. 26.

Homework 7 Solutions.

 

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SPRING BREAK

 

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SPRING BREAK

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SPRING BREAK

 

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SPRING BREAK

 

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SPRING BREAK

 

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SPRING BREAK

 

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SPRING BREAK

 

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Q-Switching

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 9.4-9.5

Silfvast (O): 12.2

Final Project Guidelines

 

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Mode Locking

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 9.5

Silfvast (O): 12.3

Homework 8. Due Apr. 2. Please change the numbers in red to your own values.

Homework 8 Solutions.

 

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Introduction to Solid State Lasers, phonon energy, nonradiative transitions

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 10.1-10.2, 10.5

Silfvast (O): 9.1-9.2

 

 

 

      

 

April 2026
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun

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Solid State Lasers II

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 10.3-10.5,10.7

Silfvast (O): 14.1,15.1-15.2

 

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Diode Laser Pumping

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 11.1-11.6

Silfvast (O): 5.4,14.9

 

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Practical Issues With Lasers

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): Lecture Notes

Silfvast (O): Lecture Note

Homework 9. This is not required. The solutions have 5 intentional (and an unknown number of unintentional) errors. If you find them, you will get 3 extra credit points each, up to a maximum of 21 points applied towards your HW total. Don't send your work, just send your list of mistakes and the correction (need both for full extra credit). Due Apr. 20.

Homework 9 Solutions.

List of Errors.

 

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Gas Lasers: He:Ne, Cu, Ar+, Excimer, etc.

Liquid Lasers

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): 10.7-10.8

Silfvast (O): 13.1-13.10

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EXAM #2 IN CLASS

Exam 2 Solutions.

Exam will only cover through Nov. 5 material. Formula sheet will be the same as last time.

Homework 10. Same as HW9. The solutions have 5 intentional (and an unknown number of unintentional) errors. Due Apr. 27.

Homework 10 Solutions.

List of Errors.

 

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Non-Linear Processes, Harmonic Generation

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): Lecture Notes

Silfvast (O): 15.1-15.7

 

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Non-Linear Processes, Harmonic Generation

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): Lecture Notes

Silfvast (O): 15.1-15.7

Homework 11. Same as HW9. The solutions have 5 intentional (and an unknown number of unintentional) errors. Due May. 4.

Homework 11 Solutions.

List of Errors.

 

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Trends, Future Directions, Perspectives, Applications.

Lecture Slides

Verdeyen (R): Lecture Notes

Silfvast (O): Lecture Notes

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Grad Presentation Day 1

Presentation Schedule

 

 

   

 

May 2026
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Grad Presentation Day 2

Presentation Schedule

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READING DAY 

 

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Final Project Report Due Last Day of Finals

 

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Final Project Report Due Today. This is a FIRM deadline.

 

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