Courses
MAE 521 “OPTICS AND LASERS”
This course provides an introduction to laser essentials, optical pulses, nonlinear optics, and laser diagnostics for graduate students majoring in engineering, physics, and chemistry. Topics include ray optics (imaging, ABCD matrix formalism), wave optics (gaussian beams, diffraction by apertures and multiple slits, diffraction-limited resolution), optical Fourier transform, Fourier optics, Schlieren imaging, ultrafast optics (short pulses, phase and group velocities), material dispersion (harmonic oscillator model of light-matter interaction. short-pulse dispersion), laser essentials, survey of lasers and optical sources, and nonlinear optics (second harmonic generation in a crystal).
At the heart of the course are practical exercises, where students use provided individual component kits to build their own optical setups and learn by doing how to
1. Walk laser beams using two mirrors and two pinholes.
2. Focus and collimate light beams with convex lenses.
3. Understand and avoid lens aberrations, such as astigmatism.
4. Build a telescope to expand light beams.
5. Perform imaging with a convex lens using a laser diode, green laser pointer, and white LED.
6. Observe and understand diffraction patterns in the rear focal plane of a focusing lens.
7. Manipulate light in the Fourier domain.
8. Perform Schlieren imaging using laser and LED light.
MAE 328 “ENERGY FOR A GREENHOUSE-CONSTRAINED WORLD”
This course provides an overview of fundamental physical mechanisms behind sustainable energy technologies, including solar thermal, solar photovoltaic, wind, nuclear, and hydroelectricity for undergraduate students across disciplines. Physics of the greenhouse effect, projected Earth's climate changes, as well as socio-economic impacts on energy uses and greenhouse-gas emissions are reviewed. Variability, dispatchability, and areal power density of energy resources are discussed. Energy efficiency, energy storage, as well as transmission and distribution of electric power are touched upon.
Webinars
WEBINAR SERIES “CONVERSATIONS WITH NATIONAL LABORATORIES”
To facilitate professional networking of Princeton students that was disrupted by COVID-19 pandemic in Summer 2020, Prof. Mikhailova organized and led the series of webinars with prominent researchers, who talked and answered questions about their career paths and research at the National Labs.