PH2501 Photonics: General Information

-- Updated Oct. 19, 2018 for term B, 2018 --

The URL for the Photonics WEB page is users.wpi.edu/~physics/photonics

Overview
The physics departments's course in photonics, PH2501, is being offered during B term, 2018. This course serves as an introduction to the use of optics in the transmission, storing and processing of information. The emphasis is on understanding the physical principles underlying practical photonic devices. Topics include lasers, light emitting diodes, planar optical waveguides, optical fibers, optical communications, light modulators and photodetectors. PH2501 represents a "bridge course" connecting fundamental optical science with emerging areas of optical technology. Because of the interdisciplinary nature of the course, it may be of interest to those students pursuing a minor in physics.

Recommended Background
It is expected that students have taken at least PH1110 and PH1120, or their equivalents. It is also desirable (but not essential) that students have taken PH1130 and PH1140, so they are familiar with concepts such as photons, standing wave patterns, etc. These concepts will be reviewed briefly during the lectures, for the benefit of those students having less preparation. The mathematical level of the course is modest, involving at most only simple integration and differentiation. The intention is to keep it at a level where it is accessible to non-physics majors. In the past, students from a variety of departments have taken this course, including Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biomedical Engineering, as well as Physics.

Textbook
It has always been difficult to find just the right text for such an interdisciplinary course, since each instructor has a slightly different emphasis in the choice of topics. For this reason, I have written a textbook on this subject, and will be using this textbook for the course. The book is:

Several other books are useful for certain topics, and will be placed on reserve for use during the term.

Evaluations
There will be 3 exams during the term, one take-home and the others in-class, as well as graded homework assignments.

For more information, contact Prof. Quimby by email at rsquimby@wpi.edu.