Part 1 – Optical materials and their properties
Overview of optical materials and device platforms used in photonics industry
Optical properties of solids – insulator, semiconductor, metals
The Glassy state; Oxide and non-oxide glasses
Attenuation, Refractive index, Dispersion
Birefringence, polarization basics
Nonlinear susceptibilities - χ^((2) ), χ^((3) ) etc.
Part 2 Optical fibre fabrication
Optical fibre basics and properties
Optical fibre materials/types (silica, non-silica and specialty fibres)
Fabrication technology of optical fibres
Cleanroom tour/demonstration
Part 3 – Planar waveguide fabrication
Planar waveguide basics and properties
Planar waveguide materials/types (Semiconductor/Dielectric/Glass: SOI, III-V, LiNbO3, HMO, Chalcogenides, Amorphous and Glass materials…)
Planar waveguide fabrication technology (Deposition, Lithography, Etching, …)
Cleanroom tour/demonstration
Part 4 Characterization
Basic materials characterisation
Fibre & waveguide loss mechanisms
Fibre characterisation
Planar characterisation
Part 5 Applications
Example of fibre applications: telecoms-based
Example of planar applications: Si photonics-based
Learning and Teaching
Teaching and learning methods
The course consists of 3-4 lectures per week including a bi-weekly workshop/tutorial/cleanroom and lab demo. Online lecture notes and self-study packs will be provided on Blackboard.
- Learning activities include: attending lectures, problems classes, and exam preparation
