LET 201 Fundamentals of Light and Lasers

• Define the wide variety of employment opportunities available to Opto-electronic Technicians
• Define these properties of light: wavelength, frequency, speed, amplitude, energy, phase, coherence, and polarization
• Describe the electromagnetic spectrum and diagram the main optical regions
• Describe safety procedures to be followed when working with lasers and optics
• Demonstrate how to set up optical systems involving optical components, optical benches, and optical diagnostic equipment
• Demonstrate how to handle, store, clean, and characterize optical components
• Distinguish between laser and non-laser types of light sources and identify their characteristics
• Describe the following basic laser classifications based on the appropriate hazards: Class 1, 2, 3a, 3b, and 4
• Practice and communicate laser safety and describe eye damage related to wavelength (different wavelength regimes for Cornea, Lens and Retinal damage) and exposure times
• Describe optical systems in terms of fundamental physical optics: waves, rays, reflection, refraction, dispersion, critical angle, thin and thick lenses, F-number, and numerical aperture
• Describe optical phenomena and systems in terms of fundamental physical optics: Huygen’s principle, constructive & destructive interference, diffraction patterns, Brewsters angle, and polarizers
• Describe waveguide TIR Principles and their importance in current technologies 
• Describe and characterize the output of laser light in terms of wavelength, optical waist, power, irradiance, Rayleigh range, and divergence