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Principles of Laser-Based Sensors

July 28-30, 2008 | MIT Campus - Cambridge, MA

Overview

Laser-based optical sensors are not only replacing conventional sensors in many areas in science, engineering and medicine, but are also creating new kinds of sensors with unique properties that could not be achieved before. The course will cover the principles of a broad class of sensors, including fiberoptic sensors, relating to the measurement of physical, chemical, and biological phenomena. Techniques for remote, distributed, and multiplexed sensing will be included, as well as, sensors that must function in hostile and hazardous environments.

The objective of the course is to provide a comprehensive, yet easily understandable, coverage of the basics of optical sensors. The presentations will use simple language and the emphasis will be on the understanding, in real time, of the fundamental concepts involved. In this way, the material being covered can be followed without the need for a strong technical background, and without the heavy reliance on mathematical concepts and tools.

Numerous demonstrations will be shown to enhance the understanding of the material being presented.

In addition, the presentations will be highly interactive so that everyone will have the opportunity to ask, and be asked, questions to ensure that any material being presented is well understood by all.

The topics covered will include

• what is an optical sensor
• what can optical sensors sense
• why is there so much interest in optical sensors
• how do optical sensors sense
• basic types of optical sensors, with emphasis on interferometric- and spectroscopic-based sensors
• examples of sensing systems, including displacement, strain, flow, rotation (gyroscope), acceleration, temperature, pressure, current, voltage, acoustic, chemical, biological, and time/frequency
• techniques for remote, multiplexed, and distributed sensors
• applications to micromechanical systems
• fundamental limits on sensing with light
• challenges in the creation of optical sensors
• future developments in optical sensors

For Whom Is The Course Intended?

The course is intended for all those who want to find out and understand what optical sensors are all about, why there is so much interest in them, and what the future may bring, without the reliance on heavy mathematics that normally accompanies such treatments. The course is suitable for engineers, scientists, doctors, medical personnel, managers, architects and others who are either working in the optical sensor field and would like to enhance their background, or not working in the optical sensor field but are curious about what optical sensors can do for them and what the future may bring.

Benefits

The benefits that the participants can expect to derive from the course, include:

• a clear understanding of what the field of optical sensors is all about
• a clear understanding of the principles used in sensing with light
• a clear understanding of what the limitations are
• an exposure to various kinds of sensor systems
• an exposure to the future of optical sensors

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Principles of Lasers and Fiberoptics

July 14-16, 2008 | MIT Campus - Cambridge, MA

Overview

Lasers and fiberoptics are very essential to the development of many important high-tech products and systems today. They have created many new applications such as: bar code readers; compact discs; laser printers; wideband low loss fiberoptic communication systems; delicate medical procedures; medical diagnostic tools; unique sensors of physical, acoustic, magnetic, electric, and spectroscopic phenomena; novel methods for materials and chemical processing; novel methods for alignment and surveying; and numerous devices of particular interest to the military.

The question is what is so unique about lasers and fiberoptics that makes them so effective and revolutionary in so many areas?

In this course, the essential fundamentals that govern the behavior of lasers and fiberoptics will be explained using simple language. Emphasis will be on the understanding, in real time, of the fundamental concepts involved. In this way, the material being covered can be followed without the need of a strong technical background.

The topics covered will include

• why is there so much interest in lasers and fiberoptics
• what are the unique properties of lasers
• how the unique properties of lasers come about
• how light interacts with matter, including: absorption, scattering, stimulated emission, spontaneous emission, and nonlinear phenomena
• how a simple laser works
• what are some of the problems with lasers
• what types of lasers are available and how do they work, including: gas, liquid, solid, semiconductor, and Raman lasers
• what are the unique properties of optical fibers
• how the unique properties of optical fibers come about
• single mode and multimode fibers
• introduction to integrated optics
• how to manipulate laser light using electro-optic, magneto-opic and acousto-optic effects
• how to design laser-based systems
• discussion of important laser and fiberoptics applications in science, engineering, and medicine
• future developments in lasers and fiberoptics

Numerous demonstrations of laser and fiberoptics phenomena will be shown to enhance the understanding of the material being presented. In addition, the presentations will be highly interactive so that everyone will have the opportunity to ask, and be asked, questions to ensure that any material that is presented is well understood by all.

For Whom is the Course Intended?

The course is intended for all those who want to find out and understand what lasers and fiberoptics are all about and how they are, or might be, used in their areas of interest, without the reliance on heavy mathematics that normally accompanies such treatments. The course is suitable for engineers, scientists, doctors, medical personnel, managers, architects, and others, who work with lasers/fiberoptics, or are simply curious about the field of lasers and fiberoptics, yet have little or no background in the basics of lasers and fiberoptics.

Benefits

The benefits that the participants, without a specialized technical background, can expect to derive from the course include:

• a clear understanding of what lasers are, their characteristics, and their limitations
• a clear understanding of what optical fibers are, their characteristics, and their limitations
• a clear understanding of how lasers and fiberoptics are used to create existing devices and systems, and how they might be used to develop new devices and systems
• a good exposure to what the future might be of this exciting age of the "photon" that we are in