Separate kits cover the various fundamental features of optics. They are complete for performing the respective experiments and easy to set up. Each kit comes with documentation that facilitates the understanding for students. Some of the subjects are polarization (linear, circular), reflection and refraction (Snell's law, Fresnel equations), diffraction (slit, aperture, grating), interference and coherence (superposition of amplitudes, fringe visibility, coherence length), waveguiding (waveguide modes, effect of polarization), laser principles (gain medium, pumping, optical resonator, threshold behavior).
Techniques in Optics
Different types of interferometers (Michelson, Mach-Zehnder, Twyman-Green) are used to demonstrate and measure displacements and deformations of objects. Wavemeters are utilized to measure the wavelength of light sources with reference to 633nm and 543nm laser wavelength. An optical probe can measure the velocity of a moving object. Other measuring techniques are available on request.
Optical Fibers
Mechanisms of fiber attenuation are shown and measured: link attenuation, connector loss, attenuation limited length. The performance differences of single mode and multimode fibers are described and experimentally realized. Connectors and splices are compared as solutions for fiber network linking. Analyzing the output from the different ports of a coupler backs the mechanism and theory for fiber couplers (leaking by evanescent waves). The role of Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG), optical isolator, optical circulator and Erbium doped fiber amplifier is demonstrated in multiplexing/ demultiplexing in data networks, long distance data links, fiber lasers and fiber sensors.
Fiber Optics Telecommunication
The characteristics of laser diode light sources are measured in terms of frequency, power over current, noise and beam divergence. Laser audio/ video kits demonstrate the transmission of voice and music through optical fiber. Complicated fiber networks are reconstructed from the output features, and regular attenuation or components (connectors, splices, fiber end surfaces) or defects and their causes identified and localized, and the quality of the whole network tested by optical time domain reflection (OTDR).
