Students study Einstein's coefficients along with Boltzmann's distribution. LFOD also brings together and applies topics from the light and optics course. Once this foundation is built, the various types of lasers are discussed. The characteristic differences and applications are explored for gas, solid state, semiconductor, liquid, and free electron lasers. Other topics covered include the various types of fiber optics, fiber optic components, and fiber optic sensors.
Fiber optics is of major importance in communications and related fields.
Just how important is demonstrated by the abundance of employment opportunities in these fields within Sonoma County and nearby. The local telecommunications industry has grown substantially over the last few years and continued dynamic growth in this area is expected. One of the goals of this course is to better prepare SSU graduates for careers in high-tech industries. Employers are currently looking for qualified graduates. To successfully achieve results often requires combining knowledge gained from many disciplines.