Photonics I

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• Use of photonics in optical interconnects
• Basic concepts governing optical fibres and planar waveguides
• Operation of key passive photonic devices

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Understand the operation of many photonic devices, physically and theoretically
• Develop analytical approaches to understanding photonic devices
• Approach research into photonic devices

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Design passive photonic devices in silicon technology using state of the art software packages
• Complete a formal report on laboratory experiments
• Develop analytical approaches to understanding complex photonic systems
• Understand techniques for the fabrication of photonic devices
• Use theoretical techniques for the solution of photonic problems

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Apply appropriate laboratory techniques to characterise passive photonic device
• Use knowledge of physics to understand the behaviour of photonic devices
• Understand the operation of photonic devices
• Apply appropriate mathematical and software techniques to solve photonic problems

Optical waveguides

• Planar dielectric waveguides
• Loss mechanisms, propagation and insertion loss
• Waveguide design (using the Lumerical software package)
• Planar waveguide fabrication
• Passive device characterisation

Optical fibres

• Step index fibre theory
• Gradient index fibre theory
• Optical fibre fabrication
• Optical fibre attenuation
• Optical fibre dispersion

Passive optical devices

• Couplers
• Splitters
• Filters
• Interferometers
• Resonators
• Multiplexers

Teaching will consist of lectures, laboratory, tutorial, and feedback sessions. The lecturers will use electronic voting systems for in-class testing and peer instruction learning. Students will learn basics of photonic modelling software packages and will characterise the designed photonics devices in a photonic laboratory.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.