Modern optics is an area of increasing importance to the economy. The Physics Department at Cal Poly Pomona proposes to enhance their program in optics and spectroscopy by purchasing a nitrogen-pumped dye laser and nanosecond resolution detection system. This laser system will be used in the optics class to teach students principles of laser operation and to provide a source for non-linear optical effects. The laser system will also serve as a resource for the Physics majors in the advanced laboratory series in order to enable students to do advanced experiments and research projects in optical pumping, resonance transfer of energy in optical systems, non-linear optics, the measurement of fluorescence lifetimes, Raman spectroscopy, thermal lensing experiments, and photochemistry. The short pulse duration, high power, and variable wavelength of the dye laser will make it a versatile and reliable light source for undergraduate optics at all levels.
