Steven Johnson: Catalogue data in Autumn Semester 2021

Name Prof. Dr. Steven Johnson
FieldPhysics
Address
Institut für Quantenelektronik
ETH Zürich, HPT D 15
Auguste-Piccard-Hof 1
8093 Zürich
SWITZERLAND
Telephone+41 44 633 76 31
Fax+41 44 633 10 54
E-mailjohnsons@ethz.ch
URLhttps://udg.ethz.ch
DepartmentPhysics
RelationshipFull Professor

NumberTitleECTSHoursLecturers
402-0023-01LPhysics7 credits5V + 2US. Johnson
AbstractThis course gives an overview of important concepts in classical dynamics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum physics, atomic physics, and special relativity. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating key phenomena using experiments, and in developing skills for quantitative problem solving.
ObjectiveThe goal of this course is to make students able to explain and apply the basic principles and methodology of physics to problems of interest in modern science and engineering. An important component of this is learning how to solve new, complex problems by breaking them down into parts and applying simplifications. A secondary goal is to provide to students an overview of important subjects in both classical and modern physics.
ContentElectrodynamics, Thermodynamics, Quantum physics, Waves and Oscillations, special relativity
Lecture notesLecture notes and exercise sheets will be distributed via Moodle
LiteratureP.A. Tipler and G. Mosca, Physics for scientists and engineers, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Decision-makingfostered
Media and Digital Technologiesfostered
Problem-solvingassessed
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Customer Orientationfostered
Leadership and Responsibilityfostered
Self-presentation and Social Influence fostered
Sensitivity to Diversityfostered
Negotiationfostered
Personal CompetenciesAdaptability and Flexibilityfostered
Creative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Integrity and Work Ethicsfostered
Self-awareness and Self-reflection fostered
Self-direction and Self-management assessed
402-0402-00LUltrafast Laser Physics Information 10 credits3V + 2UL. P. Gallmann, S. Johnson, U. Keller
AbstractIntroduction to ultrafast laser physics with an outlook into cutting edge research topics such as attosecond science and coherent ultrafast sources from THz to X-rays.
ObjectiveUnderstanding of basic physics and technology for pursuing research in ultrafast laser science. How are ultrashort laser pulses generated, how do they interact with matter, how can we measure these shortest man-made events and how can we use them to time-resolve ultrafast processes in nature? Fundamental concepts and techniques will be linked to a selection of hot topics in current research and applications.
ContentThe lecture covers the following topics:

a) Linear pulse propagation: mathematical description of pulses and their propagation in linear optical systems, effect of dispersion on ultrashort pulses, concepts of pulse carrier and envelope, time-bandwidth product

b) Dispersion compensation: technologies for controlling dispersion, pulse shaping, measurement of dispersion

c) Nonlinear pulse propagation: intensity-dependent refractive index (Kerr effect), self-phase modulation, nonlinear pulse compression, self-focusing, filamentation, nonlinear Schrödinger equation, solitons, non-instantaneous nonlinear effects (Raman/Brillouin), self-steepening, saturable gain and absorption

d) Second-order nonlinearities with ultrashort pulses: phase-matching with short pulses and real beams, quasi-phase matching, second-harmonic and sum-frequency generation, parametric amplification and generation

e) Relaxation oscillations: dynamical behavior of rate equations after perturbation

f) Q-switching: active Q-switching and its theory based on rate equations, active Q-switching technologies, passive Q-switching and theory

g) Active modelocking: introduction to modelocking, frequency comb versus axial modes, theory for various regimes of laser operation, Haus master equation formalism

h) Passive modelocking: slow, fast and ideally fast saturable absorbers, semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM), designs of and materials for SESAMs, modelocking with slow absorber and dynamic gain saturation, modelocking with ideally fast saturable absorber, Kerr-lens modelocking, soliton modelocking, Q-switching instabilities in modelocked lasers, inverse saturable absorption

i) Pulse duration measurements: rf cables and electronics, fast photodiodes, linear system theory for microwave test systems, intensity and interferometric autocorrelations and their limitations, frequency-resolved optical gating, spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction and more

j) Noise: microwave spectrum analyzer as laser diagnostics, amplitude noise and timing jitter of ultrafast lasers, lock-in detection

k) Ultrafast measurements: pump-probe scheme, transient absorption/differential transmission spectroscopy, four-wave mixing, optical gating and more

l) Frequency combs and carrier-envelope offset phase: measurement and stabilization of carrier-envelope offset phase (CEP), time and frequency domain applications of CEP-stabilized sources

m) High-harmonic generation and attosecond science: non-perturbative nonlinear optics / strong-field phenomena, high-harmonic generation (HHG), phase-matching in HHG, attosecond pulse generation, attosecond technology: detectors and diagnostics, attosecond metrology (streaking, RABBITT, transient absorption, attoclock), example experiments

n) Ultrafast THz science: generation and detection, physics in THz domain, weak-field and strong-field applications

o) Brief introduction to other hot topics: relativistic and ultra-high intensity ultrafast science, ultrafast electron sources, free-electron lasers, etc.
Lecture notesClass notes will be made available.
Prerequisites / NoticePrerequisites: Basic knowledge of quantum electronics (e. g., 402-0275-00L Quantenelektronik).
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
406-0023-AALPhysics Information
Enrolment ONLY for MSc students with a decree declaring this course unit as an additional admission requirement.

Any other students (e.g. incoming exchange students, doctoral students) CANNOT enrol for this course unit.
7 credits15RS. Johnson
AbstractThis course gives an overview of important concepts in classical dynamics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, quantum physics, and special relativity. Emphasis is placed on demonstrating key phenomena using experiments, and in developing skills for quantitative problem solving.
ObjectiveThe goal of this course is to make students able to explain and apply the basic principles and methodology of physics to problems of interest in modern science and engineering. An important component of this is learning how to solve new, complex problems by breaking them down into parts and applying approximations.
ContentOscillations and waves in matter

Thermodynamics (temperature, heat, equations of state, laws of thermodynamics, entropy, transport)

Electromagnetism (electrostatics, magnetostatics, curcuits, Maxwell's equations, electromagnetic waves, induction, electromagnetic properties of materials)

Overview of quantum and atomic physics

Introduction to special relativity
Lecture notesLecture notes and exercise sheets will be distributed via Moodle.
LiteratureP.A. Tipler and G. Mosca, Physics for scientists and engineers, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York
CompetenciesCompetencies
Subject-specific CompetenciesConcepts and Theoriesassessed
Techniques and Technologiesassessed
Method-specific CompetenciesAnalytical Competenciesassessed
Decision-makingfostered
Media and Digital Technologiesfostered
Problem-solvingassessed
Project Managementfostered
Social CompetenciesCommunicationfostered
Cooperation and Teamworkfostered
Customer Orientationfostered
Leadership and Responsibilityfostered
Self-presentation and Social Influence fostered
Sensitivity to Diversityfostered
Negotiationfostered
Personal CompetenciesAdaptability and Flexibilityfostered
Creative Thinkingfostered
Critical Thinkingfostered
Integrity and Work Ethicsfostered
Self-awareness and Self-reflection fostered
Self-direction and Self-management assessed