ECE 456

Optoelectronics

Spring

Required Course:

Course Level

Undergraduate

Units

Instructor(s)

Kelly Potter, Professor

Prerequisite(s)

ECE 381A

Course Texts

Instructor will provide course notes.

Course Description

Specific Course Information:
2021-2022 Catalog Data: Properties and applications of optoelectronic devices and systems. Topics include radiation sources, detectors and detector circuits, fiber optics, and electro-optical components.

Learning Outcomes

Specific Goals for the Course:
Outcomes of Instruction: By the end of this course the student will be able to:

Understand the electromagnetic spectrum, wave equation and wave propagation in linear, isotropic media and in anisotropic media.
Understand basic radiometric quantities and perform analyses of basic radiometric designs.
Utilize matrix methods to model and interpret image formation and beam propagation (both plane wave and Gaussian beam) in an optical system.
Understand the function and design of an optical resonator.
Calculate resonator mode characteristics and determine mode stability in an optical resonator
Understand cavity Q, constructive and destructive interference.
Interpret resonator output spectra including calculating and interpreting cavity finesse, resolution, mode spacing, etc.
Understand the design and function of a Fabry-Perot etalon optical spectrum analyzer.
Design an optical resonator (mirror curvature, size, separation, Gaussian beam characteristics in resonator) and understand sources of loss.
Understand the function and design of laser gain media – gas, liquid, solid-state.
Understand energy band diagrams, band gap, excited states, spontaneous emission, stimulated emission, state lifetimes, lineshape broadening: homogeneous and inhomogeneous, Einstein A and B coefficients, rate equations, exponential gain coefficient, population inversion, intensity.
Design three and 4 level laser gain media based on desired design constraints.
Understand the impact of placing the gain medium inside a resonator to produce a laser: laser gain profile, spectrum, threshold, population inversion, critical fluorescence power, stimulated emission power, output power.
Understand the function and design of Q switch devices and methods and mode locking devices and methods.
Discuss a variety of laser types (descriptions, pros, cons).

Course Topics

Brief list of topics to be covered:

Waves - electromagnetic, acoustic, traveling, standing. Electromagnetic spectrum. Review of basic terminology (homogeneous, linear, isotropic media, etc.) Maxwell’s equations and the wave equation.
Polarization – linear, elliptical, circular, Jones vectors and matrices. Basic Radiometry.
Image Formation – use of the refraction and translation (transfer) matrices to describe optical systems. Stability – beam path ray trace through an optical system to determine the stability of the system. Gaussian Beam Propagation – concepts and equations to determine the characteristics of a Gaussian beam. Imaging Gaussian Beams – combine the ABCD matrix method with Gaussian beams to propagate through an optical system.
Resonator: mirrors separated by an air space. Propagation described by ABCD matrix with Gaussian beams.
Cavity Q. Cavity modes, mode spacing, constructive and destructive interference Fabry-Perot etalon (optical spectrum analyzer), finesse, resolution.
Resonator design (spherical mirrors), beam waist size and location in the cavity, confocal resonator properties, general resonator properties, matrix methods for resonator, resonator stability, sources of loss, output of resonator.
Gain medium – gas, liquid, solid-state. Energy bands, band gap, ground state, excited states. Spontaneous emission, stimulated emission.
Lineshape broadening: homogeneous and inhomogeneous.
Einstein A and B coefficients, rate equations, exponential gain coefficient, population inversion, intensity.
Three and 4 level lasers. Laser gain profile spectrum, impact of gain medium on resonator output. Gain medium inside the resonator. Threshold, population inversion.
Critical fluorescence power, stimulated emission power, output power. Q switching and mode locking.
Laser types (descriptions, pros, cons). Laser output: spectral, beam characteristics, etc.

Relationship to Student Outcomes

ECE 456 contributes directly to the following specific electrical and computer engineering student outcomes of the ECE department:

1. An ability to identify, formulate, and solve complex engineering problems by applying principles of engineering, science, and mathematics.
3. An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences.
6. An ability to develop and conduct appropriate experimentation, analyze and interpret data, and use engineering judgment to draw conclusions.

Syllabus Prepared By

Syllabus updated on 3/29/2022