Module overview
Linked modules
ELEC2212 or ELEC2219 or ELEC2228
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Operation of active photonic devices (modulators and detectors)
- Basic concepts governing lasers and optical amplification
- Use of photonics in communications applications
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 several photonic devices, physically and theoretically
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Apply appropriate laboratory techniques to characterise active photonic device
- Apply appropriate mathematical and software techniques to solve photonic problems
- Use knowledge of physics to understand the behaviour of active photonic devices
- Understand the operation of active photonic devices
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Use theoretical techniques for the solution of photonic problems
- Complete a formal report on photonic component design
- Understand techniques for the fabrication and characterisation of active photonic devices
- Design optical modulators in silicon technology using state of the art modelling tools
Syllabus
Optical modulators
- Modulation effects
- Modulators
- Design of an optical modulator in Si
- Fabrication of an optical modulator
- Design of a modulator driver circuit
Optical detectors
- Photodiodes
- Receiver circuits
- Responsivity, bandwidth, noise
Laser and amplifier fundamentals
- Absorption and emission of radiation
- Einstein relations
- Population inversion and threshold conditions
- Gain saturation
- Lineshape function and line broadening mechanisms
- Laser modes and pulsed lasers.
Semiconductor sources
- DH, DFB, DBR
- Single frequency operation
- Intensity and phase noise
Optical amplifiers
- Properties - bandwidth, gain, polarisation effects
- Semiconductor amplifiers
- Rare-earth doped fibre amplifiers
- Noise contributions
Optical communications
- Fundamentals
- Challenges
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 photonics devices in a photonic laboratory.
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Wider reading or practice | 36 |
Lecture | 30 |
Completion of assessment task | 14 |
Specialist Laboratory | 6 |
Revision | 36 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 14 |
Follow-up work | 14 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
Bahaa E. A. Saleh and Malvin Carl Teich (2019). Fundamentals of Photonics. Wiley.
L. Chrostowski (2015). Silicon Photonics Design: From Devices to Systems. Cambridge University Press.
John Wilson and John Hawkes (1998). Opto-electronics: An introduction. Prentice-Hall.
Gines Lifante (2003). Integrated Photonics: Fundamentals.. Wiley.
John M Senior (1992). Optical Fibre Communications: Principles and Practice. Prentice-Hall.
Assessment
Assessment strategy
Coursework is about the design of a carrier-based optical modulator in silicon. The technical labs consider characterisation of thermo-optic silicon modulators. The tutorial sessions will be used for in-class tests, feedback sessions and additional tutorials.
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Technical Laboratories | 10% |
Coursework | 15% |
Final Assessment | 75% |
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