Lasers have affected the human story. Through the use of lasers, we have been able to create almost unlimited high-speed global communication; modify materials ranging from the lens in your eye to carbon steel; and completely transform how our music, video, and data is stored. What’s next? Currently, emerging applications such as LIDAR and remote sensing are already changing the way we think about and advance our technology, improve industrial productivity, and create new opportunities.

In this course, you will analyze the design of a laser system, identifying the unique aspects of laser light that provide the power and accuracy needed to perform in the broad spectrum of applications. You will see multiple demonstrations of lasers, including all the parts of the system, and discuss how they are being used to solve complex productivity issues. You will explore the underlying fundamentals of how lasers work by calculating the energy and physics required to power and manipulate the laser beam for your own application or design goals, completing exercises modeled after real-world applications of the laser.