An Introductory Undergraduate Experiment on Second Harmonic Generation
| dc.contributor.author | Nandivada, Lalitasri | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-08-25T14:06:06Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-08-25T14:06:06Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025-08-25 | |
| dc.date.submitted | 2025-08-20 | |
| dc.description.abstract | This project is part of a comprehensive revision of the Undergraduate Physics Laboratory Curriculum at the University of Waterloo, supported by the Dean's Undergraduate Teaching Initiative, Waterloo Science Endowment Fund (WatSEF), and the Sinclair Foundation. I have designed an introductory-level experiment on Second Harmonic Generation (SHG). SHG is a nonlinear optical process in which photons interact to produce light at twice their original frequency. The experiment is taught using inquiry-based instruction. Students investigate whether SHG depends on pulse energy, peak power, or laser intensity using a Titanium Sapphire femtosecond laser (850±50nm, 100±50fs pulses) and a Beta Barium Borate (BBO) crystal. The experiment will be implemented in the new Gee-Whiz Lab Course (GWLC), where students will conduct contemporary physics experiments without requiring prior subject mastery. This approach encourages students to revisit these beyond-introductory-level topics throughout their undergraduate education and explore how experimental investigations contribute to progress in physics in ways distinct from theoretical approaches. Preliminary work suggests the experiment is both technically feasible and pedagogically effective, providing a foundation for future introductory-level curriculum development in nonlinear optics and other topics typically reserved for upper-year or graduate study. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/10012/22249 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.pending | false | |
| dc.publisher | University of Waterloo | en |
| dc.title | An Introductory Undergraduate Experiment on Second Harmonic Generation | |
| dc.type | Master Thesis | |
| uws-etd.degree | Master of Science | |
| uws-etd.degree.department | Physics and Astronomy | |
| uws-etd.degree.discipline | Physics | |
| uws-etd.degree.grantor | University of Waterloo | en |
| uws-etd.embargo.terms | 0 | |
| uws.comment.hidden | Thank you for reviewing this thesis so quickly especially considering the high volume of submissions this time of year. I have resubmitted with following changes (copied directly from email titled UWSpace: Submission Rejected): 1. The .pdf file name must appear as ‘LastName_FirstName.pdf' 2. Title Page - remove the period between your name and the year in the copyright line 3. Page xv - Include title 'Dedication' on the Dedication page and in Table of Contents Move this p0age directly after the Acknowledgements section 4. Dedication - Foreign language text in the dedication must be accompanied by an English translation, below the other language. This vigilance is to ensure that all text is appropriate for publishing and public access. 5. If page xv is a quote keep it where it is but provide quotation marks, origin and update as quote in the table of contents Point 1: File name has been corrected. Point 2: Period has been removed on title page between my name and the year in the copyright line. Point 3: Dedication page was already directly after acknowledgements section, and titled as such on page in table of contents in previous version of the file. Also, the dedication is page v, not xv. Page xv is the quote page, following these guidelines: https://uwaterloo.ca/current-graduate-students/academics/thesis-and-defence/thesis-formatting. Point 4: Foreign language on dedication page is my aunt's name and has no direct translation. It is a proper noun and does not require translation. Aunt had already been included in brackets in previous submission. I believe based on the feedback provided this comment was meant to go for the quote page. Point 5: Quote page has been removed. The quote in Latin was seize the day knowing there's no guarantee of tomorrow. There is no origin to source as it is a common saying and is not traced back to a singular person or point in time. There were too many issues in formatting this page and it is more important to me to get the submission accepted than to work on the quote so I have removed this page. | |
| uws.contributor.advisor | Strickland, Donna | |
| uws.contributor.affiliation1 | Faculty of Science | |
| uws.peerReviewStatus | Unreviewed | en |
| uws.published.city | Waterloo | en |
| uws.published.country | Canada | en |
| uws.published.province | Ontario | en |
| uws.scholarLevel | Graduate | en |
| uws.typeOfResource | Text | en |