Alignment Intensive Optics Laboratory

Course Description

This is a three-week, in-person lab experience that can be taken in total or broken up into separate one- or two-week sessions. All laboratory units are equivalent to OPT 454 MS HOME Laboratory (OPT 401, OPT 402, and OPT 403 in succession). Each experiment is divided up into six- or twelve-hour sessions where students will construct optical systems from individual components encompassing disciplines utilizing polarization and wave retardance, fiber lasers, acousto-optics, diffraction, second harmonic generation, photovoltaic and photoconductive detection, continuous-wave infrared lasers, interferometry, and so much more. Space is limited.

2024: Offered in person as a complete series, no registrations for individual lectures will be permitted.


Session A (This session is a pre-requisite for sessions B and C)

Tuesday, May 28 – Friday, May 31 [OPT 401 Equivalent]

  • AM lab: 9 a.m. – noon
  • PM lab: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Session B

Monday, June 3 – Friday, June 7 [OPT 402 Equivalent]

  • AM lab: 9 a.m. – noon
  • PM lab: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

Session C

Monday, June 10 – Friday, June 14 [OPT 403 Equivalent]

  • AM lab: 9 a.m. – noon
  • PM lab: 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.