Attosecond radiation sources

1.Basic principles of lasers L1-L2

Population inversion, light amplification, Cavity and feedback. Some laser types: Solid state laser (YAG), Semiconductor
lasers, Gas-lasers, Excimers lasers, Vibronic lasers (Ti:Saph), Glass lasers, Rotonic lasers (CO2), Fiber lasers
(principles, the nonlinear Schrodinger equation and the propagation of solitons)

2. Optical properties of coherent light sources L3-L4

Coherence (transverse and longitudinal) (broadely defined for all particles, photons, electrons, neutrons, protons)

 

Radiation/matter interaction L5
Nonlinear optics (Pockels effect, Second harmonc generation, third harmonic generation, four wave mixing, optical
parametric amplification, Raman and Brillouin effect)

 

Pulsed laser operation L6-L7
Q-switching and mode-Locking, Laser amplification: Regenerative and non regenerative amplification of fs pulses

 

High-energy laser sources L8-L9
Radiation generation mechanisms, fundamental principles, Compton effect, Smith-Purcell effect, Cerenkov effect,
Bremstralung, beam accelerators for radiation generation, ultrashort electron pulses (femtosecond and attosecond),
Synchrotron radiation

 

High-harmonics generation L10-L11
principles and methods of HHG in gases and solids

 

X-ray lasers (principles) L12-L13
Free electron laser (principles, SASE vs seeded operation)

 

Exotic lasers L14
Microwave lasers (MASER), Phononic laser, Atomic lasers, Gamma-ray laser (wishes and ideas)

 

During the excercise sessions a 50-50 distribution of theoretical excercises and laboratory activities will be planned. The
goal will be to understand how to model and predict the basic characteristics of a radiation source (theory) and how to
operate the most common femtosecond lasers and electron sources (experimental activity at the LACUS facilities).