Teaching

Fundamentals of Laser Physics (Bachelor):

Lasers play a central role as experimental tools for nearly all of the research groups based here. This course offers an accessible introduction to this interdisciplinary topic. During the accompanying field trips to various research groups in FB10, FB15, and FB16 and (at least) one company in the Kassel area, we will learn about applications of laser technology. In the seminar, we will discuss a publication by the research group that we will subsequently visit. Full credit is awarded for attending all three parts of the class.

Details of the lecture:

  • Credits: 6

  • Timing: Every Winter Term (Monday 10am-1pm, Wednesday 2pm-5pm)

  • Rooms: Monday, 1245/Wednesday, 2131 (WS 2026/2027)

  • Contakt: Prof. Dr. Jochen Mikosch (mikosch@uni-kassel.de)

  • Target audience: The course is primarily intended for third-semester bachelor's students majoring in physics, nanotechnology, and chemistry, but it is also open to students in other semesters and engineering programs and is approved as a required elective in each case.

Structure of the lecture:

  • Introduction: Laser and their application

  • Light (electromagnetic waves): Electromagnetic waves in a vacuum and in matter, interference and coherence, statistical properties of light
  • Interaction of light and matter: Structure of atoms and molecules, interaction of atoms and light, amplification of coherent radiation
  • Optical Resonators: Fabry–Pérot interferometer and resonator, confocal resonators and transverse modes, other standing-wave resonators and stability diagrams, geometric rules for the stability of linear resonators, unstable resonators in lasers, ring resonators, Q-switched resonators, laser resonators and coherence
  • The Laser Principle: Basic Structure and Operation, A Pure Two-Level System Cannot Be a Laser Medium, Rate Equations for Three- and Four-Level Systems in Steady State, Threshold Behavior and Superradiation, Optimal Coupling in the Laser Resonator, Nonlinear Laser Dynamics, Relaxation Oscillations, Laser Spikes
  • Types of lasers and their properties: Gas Lasers, Dye Lasers, Solid-State Lasers, Diode Lasers

Ultrashort Laserpulses and their Application (Master):

Details of the lecture:

  • Credits: 8

  • Schedule: Every Summer Term

  • Room: To be announced

  • Contact: Prof. Dr. Jochen Mikosch (mikosch@uni-kassel.de), Dr. Hendrike Braun (braun@physik.uni-kassel.de)

  • Target audience: The is intended for the physics and nanostructure Master program. The module consists of a lecture (Prof. Jochen Mikosch), a tutorial and a software-based project (Dr. Hendrike Braun).

Structure of the lecture:

Introduction: What is ultrashort / Pillars of femtosecond science?

  • Recap of Foundations of Laserphysics: Interaction of light and matter, Principal components of a laser, Amplification of coherent radiation, Laser rate equations, Laser resonators

  • Elements of non-linear optics: Introduction, χ(2) and χ(3) processes, Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) / Frequency doubling, Frequency mixing / Optical Parametric Amplification (OPA), Self-focussing and self-phase modulation

  • Generation of short and ultra-short laser pulses: Q-switching, Mode-locking, Active and passive mode-locking in laser oscillators

  • Generation of intense and wavelength-tunable femtosecond pulses: Chirped Pulse Amplification (CPA), Optical Parametric Amplification (OPA), Non-collinear OPA (NOPA) and OPCPA, Hollow-core fibre compression

  • Characterization of ultrashort laser pulses

  • Pulse shaping

  • Selected Applications of ultrashort laser pulses: Strong-field ionization and molecular alignment, Pump-Probe Experiments, Experience report from a laser physicist in industry

Physics Seminar (Bachelor):

Details of the lecture:

  • Credits: 4

  • Schedule: Every Winter term (This course is a required module in the bachelor's program and was taught by Prof. Dr. Jochen Mikosch in the winter terms of 2022/23, 2023/24, and 2024/25).

  • Contact: Prof. Dr. Jochen Mikosch (mikosch@uni-kassel.de)

Experimental Physics Seminar (Master):

  • Credits: 5

  • Schedule: Every Winter Term (This course is a required module in the master's program and was taught by Prof. Dr. Jochen Mikosch during the winter term of 2025/2026).

  • Contact: Prof. Dr. Jochen Mikosch (mikosch@uni-kassel.de)