Module overview
The course will present an introduction to guided waves, optical modes, and propagation characteristics of photonic circuits, using Silicon Technology by way of example.
Linked modules
Pre-requisites: ELEC2212 OR ELEC2219 OR OPTO6012
Aims and Objectives
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge and Understanding
Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:
- Understand the issues surrounding integration of photonic devices as well as electronic-photonic integration
- Understand characterisation techniques that can be applied to silicon photonic materials
- Gain knowledge on guided waves
- Learn about fabrication of Silicon Photonic devices, and associated fabrication techniques.
- Understand the motivations for silicon photonics including the technology drivers, and examples of implementation of Silicon photonic circuits
- Understand the operation of building blocks of an optical circuit at a preliminary level, including waveguides and key photonic devices such as couplers, bends, interferometers, ring resonators, modulators and sensors
Transferable and Generic Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Think analytically.
- Study effectively
- Efficiently solve scientific problems.
Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Follow, understand and appreciate current research in Silicon Photonics.
- Undertake advanced study in the field of Silicon Photonics
Subject Specific Practical Skills
Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:
- Understand the significant differences between short reach and long haul optical communications.
- Design Silicon Photonics devices and circuits, and identify the appropriate fabrication and characterisation techniques.
Syllabus
- What is Silicon Photonics? Why is it required? What are the key technological metrics? Applications
- Fundamentals of guided waves. Modes of Si waveguides, propagation constants, effective index, mode profiles.
- Coupling to waveguides: grating couplers; butt coupling, mode transformers, inverted tapers.
- Advanced waveguides structures; Photonic crystals, slot waveguides, mid infrared waveguides.
- Waveguides loss mechanisms and loss measurements.
- Passive devices: Mach Zehnder interferometer, ring resonator, directional couplers, waveguide bends, multiplexers.
- Modulators, modulation formats and photonic-electronic integration. LiDAR.
- Photonic sensors and applications.
Learning and Teaching
Type | Hours |
---|---|
Wider reading or practice | 60 |
Lecture | 28 |
Preparation for scheduled sessions | 14 |
Follow-up work | 14 |
Tutorial | 6 |
Revision | 10 |
Completion of assessment task | 18 |
Total study time | 150 |
Resources & Reading list
Textbooks
L Pavesi & G Guillot (2006). Optical Interconnects: The Silicon Approach. Springer.
L. Pavesi & D J Lockwoodt (2004). Silicon Photonics. Springer.
G T Reed. Silicon Photonics: The state of the art.
G T Reed & AP Knights (2004). Silicon Photonics: An Introduction. Wiley.
Michael Hochberg, Lukas Chrostowski (2015). Silicon Photonics Design: From Devices to Systems. Cambridge University Press.
Assessment
Summative
This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Final Assessment | 60% |
Continuous Assessment | 40% |
Referral
This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Coursework marks carried forward | 40% |
Final Assessment | 60% |
Repeat
An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.
Method | Percentage contribution |
---|---|
Final Assessment | 60% |
Coursework marks carried forward | 40% |
Repeat Information
Repeat type: Internal & External