Module Identifier | PH34510 | ||
Module Title | OPTRONICS | ||
Academic Year | 2000/2001 | ||
Co-ordinator | Dr Andrew Evans | ||
Semester | Semester 2 | ||
Other staff | Rudolf Winter | ||
Pre-Requisite | PH22010 | ||
Course delivery | Lecture | 20 lectures | |
Assessment | Exam | End of semester examinations | 80% |
Course work | Tests Coursework Deadlines (by week of Semester): Test (10%) Week 8 (approx) Test (10%) Week 11 (approx) | 20% |
Module description
This module will investigate how photons can replace electrons as the principal information-processing agents. The module will discuss optical sources (including lasers in detail), optical fibres and waveguides, modulation of light (acoustic-optic and electro-optic modulation) and optical signal processing.
Learning outcomes
After taking this module students should be able to:
Outline syllabus
LASERS
Absorption, spontaneous emission of radiation and the Einstein relations
Laser radiation theory leading to the necessity for population inversion
Population inversion and three- and four-level systems
Threshold condition for laser cavities and mode structure of laser light
Examples of practical laser systems including solid state lasers, gas lasers, excimer lasers, dye lasers and semiconductor lasers
OPTICAL FIBRES
Snell's law and optical fibres
Dispersion and attenuation in optical fibres
Single mode and graded index fibres
Materials for optical fibres
MODULATION OF LIGHT
Birefringence and the electro-optic modulators
The design of electro-optic modulators
The acousto-optic effect
The design of acousto-optic modulators
Reading Lists
Books
J. Wilson and J.F.B. Hawkes.
Optoelectronics: an Introduction. Prentice/Hall