EEE3016 : Photonics
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Professor Noel Healy
- Owning School: Engineering
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 5.0 |
Aims
To provide an introduction to optical communications through free space and optical fibres to allow a
basic level of design calculation and evaluation to be performed.
To provide an understanding of the fundamental principles and key operating parameters of opto-
electronic components of relevance to the transmission, propagation and detection of light for high-
bandwidth communications.
Outline Of Syllabus
The nature of light:
Wave descriptions. Photon description and phenomena (photoelectric effect, momentum, interaction with matter), Kramers–Kronig relations. Description of light in terms of polarization, coherence, mono/polychromatic and Jones vectors & matrices.
Light generation:
LEDs & Lasers; Einstein A and B coefficients, rate equations, population inversion, gain and losses, resonators, laser threshold, 3 and 4 level systems, cavity modes and mode locking.
Basics of waveguides and optical fibres:
Waveguide structure, single and multimode fibres, dispersion, transmission characteristics.
Acousto-optic and electro-optic techniques, LED switching, analogue and digital techniques using lasers, AM, FM, phase modulation techniques.
Advanced topics:
Nonlinear optics, quantum optics, nano-photonics and plasmonics
Teaching Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 4:30 | 4:30 | Present in Person (4.5 lectures x 1 hour lectures) |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 1 | 4:30 | 4:30 | Synchronous On-Line Material (4.5 x 1hr lectures) |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 18 | 1:00 | 18:00 | Non-Synchronous Activities |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 15:00 | 15:00 | Assessment preparation |
| Structured Guided Learning | Structured non-synchronous discussion | 9 | 1:00 | 9:00 | N/A |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Drop-in/surgery | 2 | 1:00 | 2:00 | Office Hour or Discussion Board Activity |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 47:00 | 47:00 | background reading, reviewing notes etc |
| Total | 100:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Non-synchronous online materials are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on assessed work. Present-in-person and synchronous online sessions are used to help develop the students’ abilities at applying the theory to solving problems and to identify and resolve specific queries raised by students, and to allow students to receive individual feedback on marked work. Students who cannot attend a present-in-person session will be provided with an alternative activity allowing them to access the learning outcomes of that session. In addition, office hours/discussion board activity will provide an opportunity for more direct contact between individual students and the lecturer: a typical student might spend a total of one or two hours over the course of the module, either individually or as part of a group.
Assessment Methods
Please note that module leaders are reviewing the module teaching and assessment methods for Semester 2 modules, in light of the Covid-19 restrictions. There may also be a few further changes to Semester 1 modules. Final information will be available by the end of August 2020 in for Semester 1 modules and the end of October 2020 for Semester 2 modules.
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 20 | 2 x 10% mid term assessments |
| Written exercise | 1 | M | 80 | Class test |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A substantial formal test is appropriate for the assessment of the material in this module. The course assessments will consist of five assignments of approximately equal weight and will allow the students to develop their problem solving techniques, to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; these assessments have a secondary formative purpose as well as their primary summative purpose.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE3016's Timetable