Physics 251 Research in Physics
Spring 2003: Computational Modeling of Rare-Earth Fiber Lasers
1 credit course
Tuesday 11:00 - 12:00

        Course Goals:

• To help develop the skills necessary to conduct research
• To enhance problem solving and critical thinking skills
• To develop physical curiosity
  
  Course Objectives:
  
  The student will:
• Learn to use a computer to solve coupled differential equations numerically.
• Understand the lasing process in terms of stimulated emission, spontaneous emission, and absorption.
• Write computer software that will model population dynamics and power propagation in optical fiber.

Introduction
This course requires LARGE amounts of independent work.  I am obviously willing (and excited ) to help and guide you, but the nature of this course gives YOU the chance to take control of a project and see where it takes you.  Project ownership can make doing science very fun and extremely rewarding.  Project ownership can also be overwhelming and confusing.  This does not need to happen!  This is not to say you will not get confused, but there is no reason for this to bother you.  Keep on task and this course can be a fantastic learning experience.  Get behind and this course will make you miserable.  Coming to the weekly research meeting without any progress will not be fun!

Texts:
No required text.

Course structure
We will meet for about an hour once a week for the spring term.  We will set up short term (weekly) and long term (midterm, end of term) goals so that project progress can be checked.   I would like a web page developed so that your progress can be documented.  In terms of grades, this course is pass/fail.

back to Research in Physics Spring 2003
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last updated 1/8/03