5 ms·

I want to build a small, personal photonics lab. What do I need?

by adamnemecek 8y ago

elorant 8y ago
Just out of curiosity, what would you aim to achieve/build with a lab like that?
- adamnemecek 8y ago
  I have some theoretical understanding of photonics but what sucks is that with programming, you just fork shit and start hacking. With physics, just starting hacking is much harder.
  - jacquesm 8y ago
    For starters I would try to make a hologram. Once you can do that you can expand into photonics, it means that at least your basic understanding of setup and things like interference and stability are taken care of.
    - adamnemecek 8y ago
      That’s a good insight. Is there like some progression of this?
      - jacquesm 8y ago
        Hehe, it starts with a sand table... Or maybe with reinforcing your floor joists :) So maybe carpentry would be a good start?
        adamnemecek 8y ago
        Lol, I’m not sure understand. Is my comment of the base?
        jacquesm 8y ago
        No, not at all, it's just that a proper optical setup is totally insulated from the surroundings so that a truck moving by 100 yards from your house doesn't wreck your carefully calibrated set-up. Which usually translates into a lot of mass with as much vibration isolation as you can get. And that in turn translates into large bins filled with sand (if you want to do this on the cheap). And that in turn means you will most likely have to re-inforce your floor if you are in an ordinary building. The best places to do work like this are in the middle of nowhere and away from any major roads. Even footsteps can be a problem for long running experiments where coherence is required. It is a ton of fun though, and you will learn a lot.
        adamnemecek 8y ago
        Should I get learn zemax? Is that the right direction?
        jacquesm 8y ago
        That's definitely going to teach you lots but I always loved to tinker and learn at the same time. How about this?: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-974-fundamentals-of-photonics-quantum-electronics-spring-2006/ https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-compu... OCW should be archived.
        adamnemecek 8y ago
        I need help with the tinkering platform. I’m aware of the ocw class however it’s idk, I wanna build shit.
        jacquesm 8y ago
        Warning: gateway drug, do not open package. https://www.integraf.com/resources/articles/a-simple-holography-easiest-way-to-make-holograms https://www.integraf.com/resources/articles/a-simple-hologra... Because of course it will start with something simple... and then you start to wonder about larger and larger holograms. More powerful lasers... Bigger bases... (see sand table above) Have fun!

I want to build a small, personal photonics lab. What do I need?

elorant 8y ago

Just out of curiosity, what would you aim to achieve/build with a lab like that?

adamnemecek 8y ago
I have some theoretical understanding of photonics but what sucks is that with programming, you just fork shit and start hacking. With physics, just starting hacking is much harder.
- jacquesm 8y ago
  For starters I would try to make a hologram. Once you can do that you can expand into photonics, it means that at least your basic understanding of setup and things like interference and stability are taken care of.
  - adamnemecek 8y ago
    That’s a good insight. Is there like some progression of this?
    - jacquesm 8y ago
      Hehe, it starts with a sand table... Or maybe with reinforcing your floor joists :) So maybe carpentry would be a good start?
      - adamnemecek 8y ago
        Lol, I’m not sure understand. Is my comment of the base?
        jacquesm 8y ago
        No, not at all, it's just that a proper optical setup is totally insulated from the surroundings so that a truck moving by 100 yards from your house doesn't wreck your carefully calibrated set-up. Which usually translates into a lot of mass with as much vibration isolation as you can get. And that in turn translates into large bins filled with sand (if you want to do this on the cheap). And that in turn means you will most likely have to re-inforce your floor if you are in an ordinary building. The best places to do work like this are in the middle of nowhere and away from any major roads. Even footsteps can be a problem for long running experiments where coherence is required. It is a ton of fun though, and you will learn a lot.
        adamnemecek 8y ago
        Should I get learn zemax? Is that the right direction?
        jacquesm 8y ago
        That's definitely going to teach you lots but I always loved to tinker and learn at the same time. How about this?: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-computer-science/6-974-fundamentals-of-photonics-quantum-electronics-spring-2006/ https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/electrical-engineering-and-compu... OCW should be archived.
        adamnemecek 8y ago
        I need help with the tinkering platform. I’m aware of the ocw class however it’s idk, I wanna build shit.
        jacquesm 8y ago
        Warning: gateway drug, do not open package. https://www.integraf.com/resources/articles/a-simple-holography-easiest-way-to-make-holograms https://www.integraf.com/resources/articles/a-simple-hologra... Because of course it will start with something simple... and then you start to wonder about larger and larger holograms. More powerful lasers... Bigger bases... (see sand table above) Have fun!