ECE 456
Optoelectronics
Spring
Required Course:
No
Course Level
Undergraduate
Units
3
Prerequisite(s)
ECE 352 and ECE 381
Course Texts
Intructor will provide course notes.
Schedule
150 minutes lecture per week
Course Description
Properties and applications of optoelectronic devices and systems. Topics include electromagnetics, radiometry, polarization, propagation, laser design, and electro-optical components.
May be convened with ECE 556.
Learning Outcomes
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
- USe 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 3- 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
Waves
- Electromagnetic
- Acoustic
- Traveling
- Standing
- Electromagnetic spectrum
- Maxwell's equations and the wave equation
Basic terminology
- Homogeneous
- Linear
- Isotropic media
Polarization
- Linear
- Elliptical
- Circular
- Jones vectors
- 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 and imaging
- Concepts and equations to determine the characteristics of a Gaussian beam
- Combine the ABCD matrix method with Gaussian beams to propagate through an optical system
Resonators
- Mirrors separated by an air space
- 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
Cavity
- Cavity modes, mode spacing, constructive and destructive interference Fabry-Perot etalon (optical spectrum analyzer), finesse, resolution
Gain medium
- Gas, liquid and solid-state
- Energy bands
- Band gap
- Ground state
- Excited states
- Impact on resonator output
Lineshape broadening
- Homogeneous and inhomogeneous
Lasers
- Three- and four-level lasers
- Laser gain profile spectrum
- Laser types: descriptions, pros and 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:
- Ability to apply knowledge of mathematics, science and engineering (high)
- Ability to design and conduct experiments, as well as to analyze and interpret data (medium)
- Ability to identify, formulate and solve engineering problems (high)
- Ability to communicate effectively (medium)
- Ability to use the techniques, skills and modern engineering tools necessary for engineering practice (high)
Syllabus Prepared By
Kelly Potter, 2/29/16