Principles of lasers, by O.Svelto
Dynamic light scattering, by B. J. Berne, R. Pecora.
Learning Objectives
Experimental techniques in the field of optical spectroscopy for the measurement of different physical quantities which are relevant for the investigation of atoms, liquids and solids.
Prerequisites
Physics of matter basics ( atoms, molecules, liquids, solids)
Mandatory courses of Physics of Matter
Teaching Methods
Plenary lectures and laboratory training. Students will be asked to prepare long reports ( 10-20 pages) on the laboratory activity
Further information
Office hours for students:
Torre: tuesday 11.00-13.00 at LENS, studio 62
Oral exam with discussion of the laboratory reports
Course program
Introduction to laser sources. Introduction to light scattering processes: Fluctuations and correlation functions. Physical observables and measured signals. Scattering vector. Frequency and time resolved spectroscopy. Physics of light scattering phenomena and application to condensed matter investigations. Molecular models of scattering processes. Definition of a pulsed electromagnetic field, group and phase velocities, dispersion processes.
Lab measurements of inelastic light scattering in frequency window: Raman spectroscopy; Frequency resolved spectroscopy of a molecular liquid with assignment of spectral lines to molecular vibrations.
Lab measurements of pump-probe spectroscopy in time window: measure of spectrum and duration of a femtosecond laser pulse, the second harmonic generation, the optical Kerr effect spectroscopy.