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Department of Physics/Science |
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Department of Physics/Science |
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| Second-Generation Laser Experiments In Undergraduate Laboratories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Abstract:
Helium-Neon, nitrogen, and dye lasers are used in undergraduate pedagogy to
conduct first-generation laser experiments. Nd:YAG lasers, with high pulse energy and
superior beam quality, have paved the way for second-generation laser experiments. The
departments of chemistry and physics are taking the vital step of incorporating
second-generation laser experiments into their laboratory curriculum by using Nd:YAG
lasers. Six advanced laser experiments are introduced initially as research projects and
later, as regular experiments, into their laboratory courses. The integrated use of
Nd:YAG, YAG pumped dye lasers and a FTIR spectrometer facilitates a wide range of advanced
experiments for undergraduates, covering the areas of gas-phase, non-linear, and
low-temperature spectroscopy. The experiments include stimulated Raman scattering of H2,
D2, N2 and O2, coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering of
air, time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence of OH radicals in flame, low-temperature
matrix assisted photolysis of organometallics, photo-reduction of benzophenone, and
conventional Raman and IR spectroscopy of organic molecules. Most of them use a computer
interface, boxcar averager and pre-amplifier along with the physics department’s
monochromator, and photomultiplier tube to scan, collect and analyze the spectral data.
This exposes our students to modern advanced lasers and to computer-based data acquisition
techniques in a non-black box learning environment. Collectively, these experiments
upgrade our optics laboratory, thereby enhancing our optics curriculum and
curricula in physical, organic,
inorganic chemistry courses. Proposed New Laser Experiments
Time line for Project Implementation
Major Instruments Used in this
Project
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