PHYS 520 OPTICAL MICROCAVITIES

Semester: Fall 2022

Course Instructor: Ali Serpengüzel | SCI 119

Lectures: TU TH 1300 CASE B39

Assistant: TBA

Problem Session: TBA

Science Librarian: Ebru Çınar | TBA

Course Description: Optical microcavities. Fabry-Pérot cavity. Quality factor. Finesse. Free-spectral band. Whispering gallery mode. Coupling. Photonic molecule, glass, crystal, and metamaterial.

Course Objectives: The objective of this course is to teach the structural and physical properties of optical microcavities as a building blocks for the architectural design of subsequent photonic structures. Relevant figures of merit like the quality factor and finesse are defined and applied to photonic science and design.

Learning Outcomes: The students are expected to learn the structural and physical properties of optical microcavities and subsequent photonic structures. The student should be able to look at the shape (morphology) and the symmetry of an optical microcavity and predict its spectroscopic properties.

Teaching Method: The teaching method is by two face-to-face meetings.

Recommended book: Optical Processes in Microparticles and Nanostructures A Festschrift Dedicated to Richard Kounai Chang on His Retirement from Yale University (Advanced Series in Applied Physics) by Ali Serpengüzel (Editor) and Andrew W. Poon (Editor), World Scientific Press, Singapore (2011). (e-book through the library)

Recommended book: Optical Microcavities (Advanced Series in Applied Physics) by Kerry Vahala (Editor), World Scientific Press, Singapore (2005). (e-book through the library)

Recommended book: Optical Processes in Microcavities (Advanced Series in Applied Physics) by Richard K. Chang (Editor) and Anthony J. Campillo (Editor), World Scientific Press, Singapore (1996). (e-book through the library)

Recommended book: Light Scattering by Particles: Computational Methods (Advanced Series in Applied Physics) by Peter W. Barber and Steve C. Hill, World Scientific Press, Singapore (1990). (available at the library)

Recommended book: Optical Effects With Small Particles (Advanced Series in Applied Physics) by Peter W. Barber (Editor) and Richard K. Chang (Editor), World Scientific Press, Singapore (1988). (available at the library)

Project Report and Presentation: Each student will prepare a presentation with a related report on a state-of-the-art optical microcavity spectroscopy topic. You will make a literature search , and present your research based on the existing literature. You will find out where in the world this research is performed, as well as the related research in this country. Your presentation should consist of approximately 15 slides. As you will have 15 minutes, design your talk so that you will talk around one minute per page. You should spend a reasonable amount of time for preparing your presentation. All students taking this course are expected to participate in all of the presentations. Discuss your report and presentation with your instructor. Your report should be in the scientific format. It should include an introduction, and sections on research results, their analysis, discussion, conclusion, as well as references.

Grading policy: two midterm exams (25 % each), final (25%), and presentation with a related report on a state-of-the-art optical microcavity spectroscopy science and technology topic (25%). The dates of the exams will be announced later. Makeup exams are very reluctantly given only with a university approved medical excuse, and if given, will always be harder then the original exams. Do not plan to take makeups.

Grading policy for project presentation and report: Careful literature search, excellent presentation, completely being able to answer questions are necessary, but not sufficient conditions for the presentation. 10 steps to successful presentations are given under the presentation resources. You will submit your presentation and related report by the end of the term to the course instructor. There will be an instant 100% reduction for late presentations and related reports, i.e., late presentations and related reports will not be accepted.

Attendance: Students are required to attend lectures and problem sessions.

Student Code of Conduct: Students should be familiar with the Koç University Student Code of Conduct.