UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON PHYS1004W1

SEMESTER 2 EXAMINATION 2003/04

INTRODUCTION TO PHOTONICS

Duration: 120 MINS

Answer all questions in Section A and one and only one question in
Section B.
Section A carries 1/2 of the total marks for the exam paper and you should
aim to spend about 60 mins on it. Section B carries 1/2 of the total marks for
the exam paper and you should aim to spend about 60 mins on it.
An outline marking scheme is shown in brackets to the right of each question.
Only University approved calculators may be used.

Number of
Copyright 2004 
c University of Southampton Pages 4
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Section A

A1. Explain why, when viewing a laser beam expanded on a screen, we see laser
speckle. [2]

What property of laser light allows speckle formation? [2]

A2. Light is propagating through a thin sheet of a transparent insulator. With ref-
erence to the original driving field, describe the relative amplitudes and phases
of

(a) the field radiated by each accelerated electron [2]

(b) the total field produced by summing over all the electrons [ 2]

A3. Two optical pulses of 1ps duration, separated by 80ps are sent down an optical
fiber which has dispersion of 20 ps nm−1 km−1 . The range of wavelengths in
each pulse is 6.5nm. How far down the fiber do they have to propagate before
they can no longer be resolved? Justify your criterion for resolution as part of
your answer. [ 4]

A4. Briefly describe the two processes resulting in photon emission which can occur
to take an atom from one of its high energy states to a lower energy state . [2]

A simple two-level atom is illuminated with an intense laser beam whose wave-
length matches the energy gap between the atomic energy levels. Explain why
you cannot produce a population inversion between these two levels just by in-
creasing the intensity of the laser. [2]
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A5. State the criterion for laser oscillation to occur in a particular device. [1]

On one graph, sketch as a function of pump power the variation of

(a) the output power

(b) the population inversion. [2]

Label the laser threshold on your graph. [1]

A6. Sketch the refractive index profile for a typical optical fibre for use in telecom-
munications, giving dimensions, and values for refractive index. [3]

Explain why the profile you have drawn is appropriate for this application. [1]

A7. If a high-intensity laser beam is focused into a piece of glass, new frequencies
will be generated at integer multiples (harmonics) of the input laser frequency.
Explain briefly with the aid of a diagram why this happens. [2]

Explain why the strongest harmonic produced by the glass is three times the
fundamental, rather than twice the fundamental. [2]

A8. Sketch a twisted nematic liquid crystal display device, and briefly explain its
operation [4]

TURN OVER
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Section B

B1. Holography was invented before the laser, but the development of holography
only happened after the laser was available. Explain what holography is, why
lasers were necessary for its development, and describe some of its uses. [20]

B2. Compare the properties of two of the most common laser systems, the HeNe
laser and the laser diode. Your answer should include aspects such as the dif-
ferences in the characteristics of the output, how the population inversions are
created, and any other important differences. [20]

END OF PAPER