CFU
6
Length
14 Weeks
Semester DD
Second
Nature of light and optical components. Interaction matter/radiation. Basic concepts of solid state physics. Polarization of the light. Dicroism. Birifrangence. Induced optical effects. Light modulation: electro-optic effect, acusto-optic effect. Optical modulators. Photodetectors: thermal and photonic. Electromagnetic modes in a cavity. Photons. Optical absorption. Einstein coefficient. Population inversion. Axial and transversal modes. Line broadening. Solid state laser, gas, liquid and parametric lasers. Mode locking, Q-switching. Type of lasers and applications. Optic at the interface between two media. Guided optic. Dielectric waveguides. Optical modes in planar and channel waveguides. Optical losses in thin film. Optical fibres. Principles of optical spectroscopy: absorption, emission, lifetimes, spectroscopic ellipsometry.
Practical experiences in laboratory of specific topics.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
This course will give fundamental concepts of some optical process such as: light generation, detection of the light and modulation of the light. The main scope is the introduction of basic concepts of some electronic and optical devices with many references to the materials used for thei fabrication.
KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
It is required to be able to read and understand scientific publications for dissemination or research, usually in English. To be able to connect the different topics (interrelated between them) discussed during the course. To apply theoretically and practically, the concepts acquired during the course.
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE AND UNDERSTANDING:
At the end of the course it is required to be able to illustrate the relevant points of the program in a concise and analytical manner with appropriate language. The use of a technical language appropriate to the subject is required. It is necessary to know how to analyze a problem / question and to know how to organize an adequate response justifying it. It is necessary to know how to reorganize and develop the experiments performed in the laboratory.
MAKING JUDGEMENTS:
Students will be asked to motivate the tools and methodologies used for certain scientific experiences and be able to describe them and implement them even in different forms with respect to those described during the course. They have to be able to integrate explanations also with references to everyday life and they have to be able to provide links with optical / electronic devices described and analyzed during the lessons. They are required to be able to abstract general concepts from particular cases.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS:
They are required to be able to describe the topics covered during the course in a professional manner and with adequate language. They are required to be able to extract the important concepts and to illustrate them in a synthetic and punctual way by providing examples.
LEARNING SKILLS:
It is required to be able to read scientific texts in English. To understand graphs and scientific figures. To know how to select and correlate topics.