Bethel University's Physics and Engineering department was built upon optical science, and carries on this tradition with pride. The department not only has one of the largest undergraduate graduating classes compared to other universities offering a physics and engineering degree (within the top 5%), but is also one of a select few universities in the nation to offer a specialized degree program for optical science. Within the department, there are three labs that primarily utilize optical practices:

• AMO Lab, Nanolab, and Fluids

With a strong emphasis on research experience on an undergraduate level, there are a multitude of options available to students with state-of-the-art equipment for various practices including interferometry, spectroscopy, holography, microscopy, and ultrafast optics. Recent projects from our advanced optics courses include

• • Generation & characterization of ultrashort pulses of light

  • Transmission of sound encoded on free space laser beams

  • Magneto-optical trapping of lithium atoms

  • Photon coincidence counting and double slit interference

  • Utilization of surface plasmon laser