Module overview
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use knowledge of physics to understand the behaviour of photonic devices
- Apply appropriate mathematical and software techniques to solve photonic problems
- Apply appropriate laboratory techniques to characterise passive photonic device
- Understand the operation of photonic devices
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Develop analytical approaches to understanding photonic devices
- Approach research into photonic devices
- Understand the operation of many photonic devices, physically and theoretically
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Understand techniques for the fabrication of photonic devices
- Use theoretical techniques for the solution of photonic problems
- 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
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Use of photonics in optical interconnects
- Operation of key passive photonic devices
- Basic concepts governing optical fibres and planar waveguides
Syllabus
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
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
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.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Specialist Laboratory | 6 |
Completion of assessment task | 14 |
Revision | 36 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 14 |
Lecture | 30 |
Wider reading or practice | 36 |
Follow-up work | 14 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
G. T. Reed (2004). Silicon Photonics: An Introduction. Wiley.
G. Lifante (2003). Integrated Photonics: Fundamentals. Wiley.
L. Chrostowski and M. Hochberg (2015). Silicon Photonics Design: From Devices to Systems. Cambridge University Press.
A. Ghatak and K. Thyagarajan (1998). Introduction to Fiber Optics. Cambridge University Press.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Final Assessment | 65% |
Continuous Assessment | 35% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
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.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Set Task | 100% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External