EEE3016 : Photonics
- Offered for Year: 2020/21
- Module Leader(s): Dr 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
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 1 | 2:00 | 2:00 | Final exam |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 24 | 1:00 | 24:00 | N/A |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 24 | 0:30 | 12:00 | Revision for final exam |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 1 | 62:00 | 62:00 | Writing up lecture notes; general reading |
| Total | 100:00 |
Jointly Taught With
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| PHY3010 | Fundamental Physics IIIB |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures provide core material and guidance for further reading. Problem solving is introduced through lectures and practiced during private study.
Problems on each section of the syllabus are the most vital component of learning and understanding the materials covered in lectures and constitute the primary vehicle for student learning.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 100 | N/A |
Exam Pairings
| Module Code | Module Title | Semester | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | N/A | ||
| PHY3037 | Photonics | 2 | N/A |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
The examination provides the opportunity for the student to demonstrate their understanding of the course material. The problem solving aspects of the examination enable the student to demonstrate that they are able to apply this understanding and their analysis and synthesis to novel situations.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- EEE3016's Timetable