COURSE TITLE: ECE 379 Introduction to Lasers and Fiber Optics
CATALOG DESCRIPTION: Optical fields as a subset of electromagnetic fields, optical cavities, theory of laser action, and the basics of optical waveguides transmission, including optical fiber.
REQUIRED TEXT: B. E. A. Saleh and M. C. Teich, Fundamentals of Photonics, John Wiley & Sons, 1991
REFERENCE TEXTS:
1. Hermann A. Haus, Waves and Fields in Optoelectronics, Prentice-Hall
2. Amnon Yariv, Optical Electronics, Saunders College Publishing, 4th Edition
COURSE COORDINATOR: Mary R. Phillips
COURSE GOALS: To introduce lasers and optical waveguides. After taking this class, a student should understand the basics of optical fields including polarization, coherence, and behavior at dielectric interfaces. He or she should also understand the fundamentals of optical amplification, lasers, and optical waveguides.
PREREQUISITES: ECE 222 and ECE 224
COURSE TOPICS:
1. Review of electromagnetic fields and waves.
2. Optical waves at dielectric boundaries: reflection and transmission
3. Optical coatings for high or low reflectivity
4. Interference and optical resonators
5. Fundamentals of lasers
6. Dielectric waveguides, including optical fiber
7. Transmission effects of optical waveguides: loss and dispersion
COMPUTER USAGE: Use of MATLAB, EXCEL or other spreadsheet software.
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENTS:
These will reinforce the concepts introduced in lecture.
LABORATORY: There will be approximately five hands-on laboratory projects.
BASIS for GRADE: Homework,
laboratory write-ups, one midterm test, and final exam.
COURSE OBJECTIVES: When a student completes this course, he or she should be able to:
2. Understand
the fundamental principles of optical amplification and lasers
3. Understand
and design basic optical dielectric waveguides
4. Take
more advanced courses in fiber optic communication and optical signal
processing.
ABET CONTENT CATEGORY: 100% Engineering (Design Component)