- UCAS course code
- F305
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Master of Physics (MPhys)
MPhys Physics
Join a physics Department of international renown that offers great choice and flexibility, leading to master's qualification.
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Duration: 4 years
Year of entry: 2025
UCAS course code: F305 / Institution code: M20
- Key features:
Scholarships available
Accredited course
- Typical A-level offer: A*A*A including specific subjects
- Typical contextual A-level offer: A*AA including specific subjects
- Refugee/care-experienced offer: AAA including specific subjects
- Typical International Baccalaureate offer: 38 points overall with 7,7,6 at HL, including specific requirements
Fees and funding
Fees
Tuition fees for home students commencing their studies in September 2025 will be £9,535 per annum (subject to Parliamentary approval). Tuition fees for international students will be £36,500 per annum. For general information please see the undergraduate finance pages.
Policy on additional costs
All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's Policy on additional costs incurred by students on undergraduate and postgraduate taught programmes (PDF document, 91KB).
Scholarships/sponsorships
The University of Manchester is committed to attracting and supporting the very best students. We have a focus on nurturing talent and ability and we want to make sure that you have the opportunity to study here, regardless of your financial circumstances.
For information about scholarships and bursaries please visit our undergraduate student finance pages and our Department funding pages .
Course unit details:
Lasers and Photonics
| Unit code | PHYS30611 |
|---|---|
| Credit rating | 10 |
| Unit level | Level 3 |
| Teaching period(s) | Semester 1 |
| Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Lasers and Photonics
Pre/co-requisites
| Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction to Photonics | PHYS20612 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
This course follows on from PHYS20612, thereby providing a solid background for the physics and operation of different types of lasers and photonic principles, together with examples of their use in scientific research.
Learning outcomes
On completion of the course, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate how a laser operates, and how optical feedback is used to ensure lasing.
2. Explain line broadening and how this is of relevance to laser operation.
3. Demonstrate how the concepts of laser thresholds, gain and the oscillation conditions can be derived using rate equations.
4. Review multi-mode laser operation, including higher order cavity modes.
5. Describe the operation and output characteristics of a selection of laser sources.
6. Review applications of lasers and photonics in scientific research.
Syllabus
1. Basic laser physics: Einstein A and B coefficients; induced and spontaneous transitions; systems in thermal equilibrium; population inversion.
2. Homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening: Doppler; natural; pressure; Gaussian and Lorentzian lineshapes and widths, the Voigt Profile.
3. Develop the processes that lead to lasing from a single atom – laser field interaction using density matrices, through to the solutions for many atoms in a gain medium.
4. Gain saturation: homogeneous and inhomogeneous; saturation intensity.
5. Laser oscillation: oscillation conditions; threshold conditions; passive cavity frequencies.
6. 3 and 4 level lasers: power to maintain threshold, output coupling & optimization.
7. Multi-mode laser oscillation.
8. Laser cavities and modes: Gaussian modes; high order transverse modes; frequencies of oscillation; Laguerre-Gaussian modes, mode stability.
9. Examples of different laser systems: CW, pulsed, tunable.
10. Applications and examples of lasers & photonics used in research.
Assessment methods
| Method | Weight |
|---|---|
| Written exam | 100% |
Feedback methods
Feedback & exercises will be available through examples presented during the lectures together with answers available via Blackboard, and through working through the solution of selected examples in the lectures.
Recommended reading
Milloni, P.W. & Eberly, J.H. Lasers
Saleh, B.E.A., Teich, M.C. Fundamentals of Photonics (Wiley)
Siegman, A.E. Lasers (University Science Books)
Smith, F.G. & King, T.A. Optics and Photonics: An introduction (Manchester Physics)
Wilson, J. & Hawkes, J.F.B. Optoelectronics: An introduction (Prentice Hall)
Yariv, A. Introduction to Optical Electronics (Wiley)
Study hours
| Scheduled activity hours | |
|---|---|
| Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
| Lectures | 22 |
| Independent study hours | |
|---|---|
| Independent study | 76.5 |
Teaching staff
| Staff member | Role |
|---|---|
| Mark Dickinson | Unit coordinator |