This course is offered each Spring semester by the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Aarhus University, as part of its comprehensive Photonics Teaching Program.
Watch a brief introduction to the course in this 1-minute video: MP4
This course provides students with a solid foundation in the principles and applications of photonics. By covering essential topics such as electric and magnetic fields, light propagation, optical fibers, and photodetection, this course prepares electrical engineering students to tackle cutting-edge challenges in telecommunications, medical imaging, and quantum computing. It combines theoretical knowledge with practical lab exercises and offers networking opportunities with industry leaders. This course opens up new avenues for innovation and career opportunities in high-tech industries.
The course covers the fundamental principles and applications of photonics. Key subjects include:
ECTS credits: 5
Course coordinator: Nick Volet
Program requirement: Active participation is mandatory.
Prerequisites: Prior knowledge of electromagnetism and optics.
Course assessment: Evaluation will be based on an oral exam, centered on a design study you will develop, incorporating one or more research papers related to lightwave technologies. Grading will follow the seven-point scale and will include an external co-examiner.
Jan. 27 + 30 (week 5)
Recap on complex numbers and differential operators.
Maxwell's equations and complex fields.
Fourier decomposition, separation of variables and trial solution.
Pulses, small-signal modulation and continuous-wave (cw) operation.
Wavenumber, attenuation coefficient and effective refractive index.
Expressions for the electric field.
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Feb. 10 + 13 (week 7)
Relative directions of the fields.
Poynting vector, time average.
Intensity and optical power.
Wave types: plane, Gaussian, and guided modes.
Material anisotropy and the walk-off effect.
Nonlinear optics: second- and third-order effects.
During the exercice session on Thursday, we will use the software EMode Photonix.
Information on how to get started can be found here.
Please go through the information provided at this link and install the license.
Feb. 17 + 20 (week 8)
Boundary conditions. Snell's law.
Total internal reflection and evanescent field.
Transverse polarizations: TE and TM waves.
Reflection and transmission coefficients.
Fresnel’s equations and Brewster’s angle.
Phase shifts upon reflection.
Thin films: antireflection (AR) coating, bandpass filter, distributed Bragg reflector (DBR).
Goos-Hänchen effect.
Internship and Project Day: March 7 (Friday, week 10)
Starting at 7:45 in Building 5122, Room 122.
See this LinkedIn post.
November 2024: Guest lecture from Asger Sellerup Jensen, Senior Market Development Manager & Head of Quantum at NKT Photonics
Video: MPG
Research Day: March 26 (Wednesday, week 13)
Pitches starting at 12:30 in Peter Bøgh Andersen Auditory in Building 5335.
Poster session starting at 13:30 in Building 5122, Room 122.
April 7 + 10 (week 15)
Directional couplers and supermodes. Phase-matching condition.
Mach-Zehnder interferometers (MZIs).
Multi-mode interference (MMI) couplers.
Optical hybrids and coherent receivers.
→ Monday, week 15: Feedback on submitted abstracts: PDF – PPT
→ April 14 – 20 (week 16): No teaching at AU (Easter week)
→ April 21 (Monday, week 17): No teaching (Easter Monday)
National Optics Congress at DTU: April 23 + 24 (week 17)
Great opportunity to network with #photonics stakeholders.
→ For students: all expenses paid for the conference experience including transport and accommodation.
May 12 + 15 (week 20)
Recap.
→ Course evaluation
→ May 15 (Thursday, week 20): Individual presentations (rehearsal)
For the numerical simulation of waveguide modes, we will be using EMode Photonix software. This tool is essential for accurately modeling and analyzing waveguide behavior.
Detailed instructions and resources to help you begin using EMode Photonix can be found here.
Evaluation will be based on an oral exam, centered on a design study you will develop, incorporating one or more research papers related to lightwave technologies.
For those that would like to attend the exam, please send your abstract to Nick Volet by email before the above deadline.
The exam is oral, and the duration is 20 min.
We ask you to prepare a presentation for 10 min, leaving 10 min for questions.
LaTeX files (for booklets and exercises) are available at this Overleaf project.
Slides and other files are available at this SharePoint site.
