Laser Spectroscopy Podcast

We look at spectroscopic methods to manipulate matter for use in matter wave interferometry

Laser Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) is discussed including a look at a LIDAR based study of the topography of the south bay.

We look at laser frequency noise and methods to suppress it by locking to a cavity or a molecular transition.

We conclude our look at time resolved spectroscopy by discussing techniques necessary for dealing with ultrafast pulses and an example of an ultrafast pump-probe experiment for analysis of charge carrier dynamics in organic polymers

We look at methods to generate short laser pulses including pump modulation, Q-switching, cavity dumping, and mode locking.

We conclude out look at Raman spectroscopy with a discussion of Coherent Anti-Sokes Raman Spectroscopy (CARS)

We describe spontaneous Raman scattering for both Stokes and Anti-Stokes radiation and introduce stimulated Raman scattering.

We look at methods of saturation spectroscopy to beat the doppler broadened line width when resolving spectral profiles.

We discuss a paper on Stimulated Emission Spectroscopy

Frequency Modulation Spectroscopy, Intracavity Spectroscopy and Cavity Ringdown spectroscopy are discussed.

We look at various mechanisms that change the shape of spectral lines including doppler broadening, pressure broadening, transit time broadening and saturation broadening

We look at properties of interferometers that are relevant for their use as measurements of wavelength.

We discuss wavelength measurement with spectrometers and investigate the properties of prism spectrometers and grating spectrometers

We look at the pros and cons of various photodetectors including the photomultiplier tube, and the thermal calorimeter.

We look at methods of detecting radiation and focus on the photodiode.

We investigate the energy levels of various common lasers and discuss what laser sources are applicable for producing light in various regions of the spectrum.

We look at the absorption spectrum for HCl and infer its molecular properties

We discuss how laser-matter interactions are used with falling atoms to precisely measure the acceleration of gravity.

We consider the effect of a perturbed hamiltonian on a two level atom to determine the time dependent probability for finding an atom in the upper state when excited by an incident field.

We complete our analysis of the classical electron oscillator model and apply the results to the index of refraction of materials to find the source of dispersion and absorption.

We discuss the interaction of light and matter in terms of a simple classical model of light as an oscillating driving field, matter as damped harmonic oscillators and the interaction as the driving of those damped harmonic oscillators by the light field.

Laser spectroscopy is an established field of chemistry and physics that uses the advantages of laser sources for spectroscopic measurements of atomic and molecular systems. This class covers laser sources, instrumentation, techniques and theory associated with the interaction of light and matter. It will provide both theoretical insight and provide an overview of experimental techniques that are relevant to this field.