The course will provide an overview of high power lasers that can be used in the future battlefield as a part of an effective defense layer against ballistic missiles, rockets, and mortars. Various types of high power lasers, their mechanism of operation and interception, and the current technological status will be presented. We will demonstrate how a basic laser configuration can be upgraded into a high power military laser system. The advantages and disadvantages of various types of laser systems will be reviewed and future prospects of the potentially promising laser systems will be discussed.

This course provides information on novel materials and technologies used to generate direct laser radiation. It includes a briefing on the most used non-linear materials, and ways of frequency shifting and conversion. Starting with atomic spectroscopy and solid-state physics, we cover the benefits and limitations of the materials that generate coherent radiation, frequency shifting and wavelength conversion, concentrating on the performance of these materials in laser systems, ways to improve the spontaneous and stimulated emission, methods of frequency conversion & shifting, and the spectroscopy of ions doped in various hosts. The course includes many practical examples of laser materials and non-linear optical elements and some recent laser applications in fiber laser communications and in DWDM.

The course will provide a general overview of some basic physical processes and engineering concepts used in the design of lasers. It will review and concentrate on the main types of lasers and their design, based on physical phenomena. The course will also include a brief overview of the most commonly used nonlinear materials, and methods of frequency shifting and conversion of laser output. Many practical examples relevant to the design and application of solid state, gas, liquid and semiconductor laser systems and laser materials will be included.

This course introduces basic concepts of the dynamics and physical processes and engineering considerations that are relevant to the design and operation of solid state lasers. It provides understanding of the limitations of the laser systems and innovative solutions based on physics and engineering with many examples of various types of lasers. It also gives a general overview of some physical basic processes and engineering concepts that lead to the design of solid state lasers. The course provides understanding to some concepts of atomic spectroscopy and solid state physics, followed by the dynamics of excited states laser ions in solids. It emphasizes the performance of these materials in solid state laser systems. We include many practical examples of laser materials and non-linear optical elements that use the above principles and show how these ideas are utilized in communication using fiber lasers and DWDM technology.