Module Information
Module Identifier
PH34510
Module Title
Optronics
Academic Year
2013/2014
Co-ordinator
Semester
Semester 1
Pre-Requisite
MA11010 or MT11010; and successful completion of Year 2.
Other Staff
Course Delivery
| Delivery Type | Delivery length / details |
|---|---|
| Lecture | 22 lectures |
Assessment
| Assessment Type | Assessment length / details | Proportion |
|---|---|---|
| Semester Assessment | Coursework Deadlines (by week of Semester): Test (15%) in Week 8 (approx) Test (15%) in Week 11 (approx) Course Work: Tests | 30% |
| Semester Exam | 2 Hours End of Semester Examination | 70% |
| Supplementary Exam | 2 Hours | 100% |
Learning Outcomes
After taking this module students should be able to:
- explain what is meant by laser light
- calculate the population inversion necessary for laser action
- describe the different pumping requirements of three- and four-level lasers
- distinguish the longitudinal and transverse mode structures of laser cavities
- describe the operation of different types of laser systems
- explain what is meant by an optical fibre
- determine the major causes of attenuation and dispersion of light in optical fibres and the means by which these can be minimised
- design modulators of light based on the electro-optic and acousto-optic effect
- design a frequency doubler for laser light
Brief description
This module will cover a number of topics in Modern Optics, with a particular theme of 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, non-linear optical effects, optical modulation and signal processing, photonic structures, holography and optical storage.
Content
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
Continuous wave and pulsed lasers; theory of mode-locking, ultra-fast lasers.
OPTICAL FIBRES
Snell's law, dispersion and attenuation in optical fibres
Single mode and graded index fibres
Materials for optical fibres, fibre manufacturing
NON-LINEAR OPTICS
Polarisation effects in media, harmonic frequency generation
Parametric generation of light, white-light continua
Other nonlinear processes; e.g. Kerr effect, multi-photon absorption
MODULATION OF LIGHT
Birefringence and electro-optic modulators
The acousto-optic effect
PHOTONIC CRYSTALS
The basics; periodicity in optical structures
Optical band-gaps, group velocity dispersion and optical density of states
Modeling of photonic crystals, plane-wave and FDTD simulations
Practical realisations of photonic crystals, iridescence and structural colour, integrated optics
Introduction to Plasmonics.
HOLOGRAPHY
Basic principles
Practical examples; the Gabor hologram, volume holograms
Holographic lithography & optical data storage
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
Continuous wave and pulsed lasers; theory of mode-locking, ultra-fast lasers.
OPTICAL FIBRES
Snell's law, dispersion and attenuation in optical fibres
Single mode and graded index fibres
Materials for optical fibres, fibre manufacturing
NON-LINEAR OPTICS
Polarisation effects in media, harmonic frequency generation
Parametric generation of light, white-light continua
Other nonlinear processes; e.g. Kerr effect, multi-photon absorption
MODULATION OF LIGHT
Birefringence and electro-optic modulators
The acousto-optic effect
PHOTONIC CRYSTALS
The basics; periodicity in optical structures
Optical band-gaps, group velocity dispersion and optical density of states
Modeling of photonic crystals, plane-wave and FDTD simulations
Practical realisations of photonic crystals, iridescence and structural colour, integrated optics
Introduction to Plasmonics.
HOLOGRAPHY
Basic principles
Practical examples; the Gabor hologram, volume holograms
Holographic lithography & optical data storage
Notes
This module is at CQFW Level 6