ECE 459
Fundamentals of Optics for Electrical Engineers
Course Level
Units
Prerequisite(s)
Course Texts
- Guenther, B.D. Modern Optics. 1st ed. Wiley, 1990.
- Goodman, Joseph W. Introduction to Fourier Optics. 2nd ed. McGraw-Hill, 1996.
Schedule
Course Description
Introduction to diffraction and 2-D Fourier optics, geometrical optics, paraxial systems, third order aberrations, Gaussian beam propagation, optical resonators, polarization, temporal and spatial coherence, optical materials and nonlinear effects, electro-optic modulators. Applications to holography, optical data storage, optical processing, neural nets and associative memory optical interconnects will be discussed.
May be convened with ECE 559.
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, the student will be able to:
- Understand the basic concepts of physical and geometrical optics as they relate to engineering applications
- Layout designs for basic optical systems
- Understand the properties of optical waveguides and fibers
- Understand the basic concepts of image analysis
Course Topics
Electromagnetic wave propagation
- Complex description of EM fields
- Plane waves: propagation constant and Poynting vector
- Refractive index and dielectric constants
- Laws of reflection and refraction
- Velocity of light in optical materials
- Field polarization
- Plane of incidence
Fresnel reflection coefficients
- Amplitude and phase of reflected fields from low-high and high-low index changes
- Perpendicular and parallel polarization reflection
- Coefficients
- Intensity reflection and transmission
Radiometry
- Basic radiometric terms and quantities
- Black body radiation
Basic optical components and systems
- Lenses and mirrors
- Principal points, focal points, nodal points
- Real and imaginary images
- Afocal systems
- Telescope and microscope
Ray propagation using matrix and ray trace approaches
- Matrix descriptions of optical components and systems
- Cascading optical components
- Analysis of a telescope and microscope
- Demonstration of Zemax
Aberrations of basic optical systems
- Spherical, coma, astigmatism, field curvature, distortion
- Basic optical system designs that minimize aberrations
Diffraction theory
- Huygens principle and interaction with light at an aperture boundary
- Fresnel (near) and Fraunhoffer (far) field descriptions
- Rayleigh Sommerfeld diffraction formula
- Diffraction from simple apertures
- 4-f optical system, lab demonstration
Gaussian beam propagation
- Beam parameters
- Beam diameter and radius of curvature
- Beam transfer through optical components
- Power in Gaussian beams
Coherence theory and Interference
- Temporal and spatial coherence
- Basic interferometer designs and measurements
Material anisotropy and field polarization
- Field description of polarized light
- Polarization components
- Lab example
Grating diffraction and dispersion
- Phase matching
- Ruled gratings and holographic gratings
- Blazed gratings
- Volume holograms
- Lab demonstration
Waveguides:
- Basic properties of field propagation in waveguides
- Planar waveguides
- Fiber optic waveguides
Optical Systems
- Fiber-optic systems
- Holographic displays
Relationship to Student Outcomes
ECE 459 contributes directly to the following specific electrical and computer engineering student outcomes of the ECE department:
- Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering (High)
- Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data (low)
- Ability to design a system, component or process to meet desired needs within realistic constraints, such as economic, environmental, social, political, ethical, health and safety, manufacturability and sustainability (high)
- Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems (high)
- Knowledge of contemporary issues (low)
- Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice (high)