Nonlinear Optics
This doctoral course develops advanced understanding of nonlinear light–matter interactions, covering nonlinear polarization, frequency conversion, Kerr nonlinearities, self-focusing, self-phase modulation, optical solitons, stimulated scattering, and related phenomena in nonlinear optical systems.
Instructor: Hai-Peng Sun
Course description
This course is designed for doctoral students in optics, optical engineering, and related disciplines. It provides a systematic introduction to the fundamental theories and representative phenomena of light–matter interactions under intense optical fields. Major topics include nonlinear polarization and susceptibilities, nonlinear wave equations, phase matching and quasi-phase matching, second-order frequency conversion, the optical Kerr effect, self-focusing, optical phase conjugation, self-phase modulation, optical solitons, and stimulated scattering, together with selected aspects of the microscopic origins of nonlinear optical responses.
Prerequisites
Electromagnetism, quantum mechanics, and an introductory course in optics.
Topics
The course covers wave mixing, optical bistability, ultrafast phenomena, and selected research problems in nonlinear optics.