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1.INTRODUCTIONThe Photonics group at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras offers several theoretical courses for students in the field of optics and photonics. The Advanced Photonics Laboratory was designed as a practicuum to add or supplement knowledge from the theory courses. The primary research areas of the photonics group in our institute are fiber lasers, optical sensors, non-linear optics, fiber optic communications and diffractive optics. In the Advanced Photonics Laboratory course, we offer various experiments to foster interest among young researchers to delve into each of the research areas. As part of the course, students are trained to use different equipment like digital storage oscilloscopes, optical spectrum analyzers, light wave measurement units, electrical spectrum analyzers etc. The experiments in this course are proposed by senior research scholars in the lab and are derived from their research areas. These senior students also act as mentors for their respective experiments and guide the participants of the course. Learning outcomes are specified for each experiment, and students are encouraged to relate their laboratory experience to the learning outcome. 2.MODE OF CONDUCT OF COURSE AND EVALUATIONThe laboratory course is modeled as a practicum, where a student can enroll with a partial understanding of the theory. The course begins with an introductory class by the instructor, who gives the outline of all the experiments, how to interpret the results and explains the grading procedure. This course includes eleven different experiments, three to five hours per week, which broadly cover different areas of optics. Special invited lectures of faculty members working in different areas of optics are arranged before the laboratory sessions in order to provide the theoretical concepts behind an experiment. Teaching assistants schedule the experiment, circulate corresponding manuals to the students, book slots for instruments necessary for the experiment and intimate mentors and students about the preparedness of the experiment. 2.1Role of the mentorEach experiment is a part of research work carried out in our institute. Hence senior research scholars play a vital role as mentors to assist the student during the experiment. Students are expected to read the manual and appropriate references, in order to obtain a lucid idea about the experiment to be performed. Optical components and the equipments required for the specific experiment are demonstrated to the students along with the precautions and handling procedures. Mentors also conduct viva sessions, to ensure and evaluate the student’s readiness in performing the experiment. The marks awarded for the viva also helps the instructor to understand the performance of the student. While performing the experiment, the mentor will assist the students as well as clarify their doubts, thus both get an opportunity to learn. 2.2Evaluation MethodologyStudents get their laboratory records evaluated by the mentors before next lab session. The instructor ensures that the interpretation of the results is adequate and appropriate. Online assignments are uploaded by instructor on the current trends in optics, typically related to an experiment, and providing students with exposure to popular research articles. The evaluation of APL is a three level assessment including two quizzes and an end semester examination. Quizzes are held as viva-voce conducted by the instructor after the students have performed a specific set of experiments. The written end semester examination of two hours duration consists of conceptual level questions to test their understanding in performing the experiments. At the end of the course, students are requested to fill up an online questionnaire in order to assess the learning outcomes they had acquired. 3.DETAILS OF EXPERIMENTSA few important experiments performed in this laboratory course and their learning outcomes are presented in Table 1. Table 1:Details of the experiments performed in Advanced Photonics Laboratory
Apart from these experiments, students are also encouraged to learn data analysis techniques like fitting data to a theoretical model, distribution of residuals around the fit and identification of outliers [1]. The survey results in Fig. 1 show the ability of the students in using different instruments as well as applying error analysis on experimental data. As an example, we describe the fiber ring laser experiment in detail. Figure 1:Analysis of students response to (Left): use of instruments. (Right): importance of error analysis.  3.1Construction and analysis of a fiber ring laserOne of the primary objectives of this experiment is to motivate students to experiment with the parameters of the laser cavity and gain an insight into the theoretical concepts of laser. The opportunity to work with a wide range of optical components makes it one of the vital experiments of this laboratory course. The fiber ring laser cavity includes 980 nm pump laser diode, WDM (1550/980 nm), Erbium doped fiber(EDF), couplers of different coupling ratios (50:50, 65:35 and 95:5) and isolators (980 and 1550 nm). The characterization of each component performed before constructing the ring laser [2] ensures that students understand the significance of the specifications provided in the datasheet of an optical component. By changing the coupling ratios of the coupler in the cavity and observing the lasing spectrum, they understand how lasing depends on the gain-loss parameters. Fig. 2 shows the experimental setup as well as the L-I curve of a fiber ring laser for different output coupling ratios. Figure 2:(Left): A schematic of the setup of a fiber ring laser. (Right): The L-I curve of the ring laser for different output coupling ratios.  Students understand the significance of selecting the length of the gain medium to eliminate any residual pump appearing at the output. The idea of selectivity in lasing wavelength is realized by incorporating a fiber Bragg grating in the cavity. The experiment also offers students to investigate various pumping schemes like backward and forward pumping. Students are provided with sufficient freedom for demonstrating their creativity in this experiment. By the end of this experiment the students are expected to demonstrate the balance between gain and loss in the laser cavity, the source of noise in an optical amplifier, the influence of the pump power on the optical ASE spectrum, the effect of EDF length on the output power and the role of the different passive components (WDM, coupler, etc) used in a laser cavity. The results of the survey are presented in Fig. 3. This experiment imparts sufficient amount of confidence in each participant to design laser and optical amplifier setups. 4.CONCLUSIONThe Advanced Photonics Laboratory is a mandatory course for students aiming to use the experimental facilities of the photonics group. It provides students a hands - on experience with sophisticated instruments under the mentorship of senior students. The experiments depicted above are designed carefully to motivate the students towards design, analysis and interpretation. This lab enables scholars to deal with difficulties encountered and precautions to be taken while performing experiments and hence serves as a preparatory course for their research. 5.ACKNOWLEDGEMENTWe would like thank Arvind P. A., Gayathri M.S., Jyothish M., Kakarla Ravikiran, K Sai Krishna Reddy, Manas Srivastava, MD. Aftab Baig, Pabitro Ray, Parimal Sah, S. Bhargav, Srijith K., Sujith C. and Vaibhav Pratap Singh who were the mentors who contributed in designing the experiments. We would also like to thank some of the students of the course who contributed data for some of the plots in the paper. REFERENCESG. L. Squires,
“Practical Physics,”
Cambridge University Press,2001). https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139164498 Google Scholar
Silfvast W.T.,
“Laser Fundamentals-Second Edition,”
Cambridge University Press,2008). Google Scholar
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