Download PH4027 - Optoelectronics & Nonlinear Optics

PH4027 – Optoelectronics & Nonlinear Optics
PH4027 - Optoelectronics & Nonlinear Optics
Credits:
Number of Lectures:
Academic Year:
15.0
27
2016-17
Semester:
Lecturer:
1
Prof Ifor Samuel and Dr Michael Mazilu
Overview
Optoelectronics is generally understood as the union of electronics and optics. Optoelectronics is mainly
concerned with the generation, manipulation and detection of light in electronic materials. These
materials are typically semiconductors, e.g. silicon and gallium arsenide, but can also be more
exotic such as liquid crystals and organic semiconductors. Optoelectronics is all-pervasive and covers
a large number of everyday applications, ranging from the ubiquitous LED, televisions and computer
displays, as well as lasers in CD players, to sophisticated equipment for high-speed
telecommunications applications that form the backbone of the internet. While classical optics is
concerned with linear interactions of light and matter, such as refraction, nonlinear optics deals with
light-matter interactions that usually occur at higher powers, i.e. strong electromagnetic fields.
Typically, the incident field is so strong that the material can no longer respond linearly. This leads to
fascinating effects such as second harmonic generation (often used to generate green and blue light
from an infrared source) and self-focussing.
Aims & Objectives
The aim of the module is to introduce students to the basic physics underpinning optoelectronics and
nonlinear optics, and to provide them with a perspective of contemporary developments in the two
fields. This gives opportunities for recognising physics in action in the real world, as experienced by a
range of consumer goods used in everyday life.
Learning Outcomes
Students will:
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gain an appreciation for the wide range of optoelectronic principles and devices used in
everyday life.
understand the working principles of display devices, appreciate the differences and
limitations of different technologies.
understand how electric fields can control the orientation of liquid crystals and the resulting
impact on the propagation of polarised light through the medium.
realise the operation and potential of organic light emitters.
understand the principles of confining light in optical waveguides and fibres.
be able to design different types of optical waveguides.
understand fibre optics and the basics of optical telecommunications.
experience the working principles of light detectors and modulators and where they are used.
understand the principles of linear and non-linear light-matter interactions.
understand the difference between passive and dynamic non-linear optics.
Appreciate the potential and limitations of nonlinear optics.
solve design and similar problems associated with the above devices.
Synopsis
The module starts with the area of displays, then moves on to optical communications, optical
modulators, nonlinear optics, and finishes with detectors.
Displays: Photoluminescence and electroluminescence. Semiconducting polymers. Factors determining
efficiency. Light emitting diodes and FETs. Liquid crystals and their different phases. Operation of
liquid crystal displays.
Optical communication: Advantages and disadvantages of optical communications over other types.
Basic concepts.
Modulators: Mechanical, Acousto-optic, Electro-optic.
Nonlinear optics: Introduction to nonlinear effects. Second order nonlinear optics. Harmonic
generation. Sum-frequency mixing. Phase matching and optical parametric oscillators. Third order
nonlinear effects such as self-phase modulation and self-focussing.
Detectors: Detection mechanism. Sources of noise, state-of-the-art performance and limitations.
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PH4027 – Optoelectronics & Nonlinear Optics
Pre-requisites
PH2011, PH2012, MT2001 or (MT2501 and MT2503), (PH3081 or PH3082 or [MT2003 or
(MT2506 and MT2507)]), PH3007
Anti-requisites
None
Assessment
2 Hour Examination = 100%
Accreditation Matters
This module may not contain material that is part of the IOP “Core of Physics”, but does contribute to
the wider and deeper learning expected in an accredited degree programme. The skills developed in
this module, and others, contribute towards the requirements of the IOP “Graduate Skill Base”.
Recommended Books
Please view University online record:
http://resourcelists.st-andrews.ac.uk/modules/ph4027.html
General Information
Please also read the general information in the School's honours handbook.
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