Preface (A summary of the
"Laser Adventure" project).
A new course on "Lasers
and their Applications" has been developed by Rami
Arieli for Grades 11-12, and college level.
A book was written
(in Hebrew), explaining the basic physical principles of laser operation,
describing many types of lasers, and many applications of lasers.
Those laser applications include:
-
Daily Use (such
as: Bar Code Scanner, Compact Disc and CD-ROM, Laser Printer).
-
Military (such
as: Laser Range finder, Laser Weapons).
-
Medical (such
as: Surgery, Diagnostic, Photo Dynamic Therapy).
-
Industry (such
as: Measurements, Cutting, Welding, Hardening, Photolithography, Spectral
Analysis).
-
Science (such
as: Laser Fusion, Laser Cooling of Atoms, Short Pulses).
-
Special Applications
(such as: Optical Fibers, Laser Gyroscope, Holograms).
The motivation
for this course was to use the newly developed
technologies to attract students
to science, make science relevant by demonstrating
every day applications, and explain basic ideas in "modern physics".
The instructional materials have been reviewed by groups
of Israeli Physics teachers, and their response was very encouraging. High
school students who were exposed to the course showed much interest.
In 1997, teachers from Kansas used this materials on
the internet as part of a course on the subject.
In 1998-9, a Web course
is conducted to students and teachers from Israel (in Hebrew).
The plan is to provide this course in multimedia
computerized interactive versions for both CD-ROM and the Internet.
