1. A Short History and Introduction to Optics.

2. Lens Design and Matrix Algebra.

3. Stable optical resonators. Fabry-Perot Resonators:Optical Spectrum Analyzers

4. Abberations of Lenses and Optical Systems

5. Polarization and Birefringence, Quarter and Half Wave Plates

6. Introduction to Gaussian beams

7. General Properties of laser light and essential elements of a laser. Mode density of a cavity. Planck's Radiation Law.

8. Lasers: The Einstein A and B coefficients. Absorption and Small signal gain.

9-10. The Laser as an oscillator: Feedback and threshold conditions, Power requirements for oscillation etc.

11. Laser Devices: Semiconductor diode lasers, He:Ne, Nd:YAG and dye lasers

12. Optical Systems: Telescopes, Microscopes, Ring Lasers, Laser Gyroscopes

13. Applications: Holography and Spatial Filtering