4 ECTS credits
110 h study time

Offer 1 with catalog number 4017565DNR for all students in the 1st semester at a (D) Master - preliminary level.

Semester
1st semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Alvorens studenten Industriële Wetenschappen een inschrijving kunnen nemen voor 'Fotonica' moeten zij geslaagd zijn voor 'Trillingen en golven', 'Moderne fysica' en 'Wiskunde voor signalen en systemen'.
Taught in
Dutch
Partnership Agreement
Under interuniversity agreement for degree program
Faculty
Faculty of Engineering
Department
Applied Physics and Photonics
Educational team
Hugo Thienpont (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
36 contact hours Lecture
Course Content

In this course you will be [1] introduced into the field of photonics by looking at its history, studying its applications and analyzing the impact of photonics technology on todays economy and society. This course will teach you about [2] the interaction of light with matter (i.e. the emission and absorption of light by atoms, dispersion, scattering & interference of light, and more generally propagation of light through dielectrics and metals light in metals), [3] the propagation of light (i.e. reflection, refraction, total internal reflection, evanescent waves, frustrated total internal reflection, Fermat's principle), [4] geometrical optics (i.e. lenses & lens fabrication), [5] lasers (i.e. Einstein's theory of light-matter interaction, essential elements of a laser, characteristics of laser light, lasertypes & parameters) and [6] photovoltaics and how to generate electricity from sunlight.

 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Fotonica, H. Thienpont
Digital course material (Required) : Powerpoint presentaties, H. Thienpont
Handbook (Recommended) : Optics, E. Hecht, 5de, Addison Wesley, 9781292096933, 2016
Additional info

The course is based - for the most part - on material discussed in the book "Optics" by Eugene Hecht. A digital copy of the detailed course notes containing - for the most part - excerpts from the aforementioned book, together with recordings of HOC sessions, will be made available to the students via the CANVAS platform.This should be complemented by additional information provided in the PowerPoint slides used during the lectures. All lecture slides are also made available to students via the CANVAS platform. Students may choose to purchase the book "Optics" by Eugene Hecht from a bookstore. They are encouraged to consult this book, which is available in the library of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel.

The lectures are made available as recorded sessions via the CANVAS platform.Students can consult them at any time.

Learning Outcomes

General competences

This course aims at introducing the basic concepts of optics and photonics.
The main goal is to provide the knowledge needed to follow the main courses of the master in photonics; namely microphotonics, optical communication systems, design of refractive and diffractive optical imaging systems and lasers.

The main learning outcome is as follows:

The student must be able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge and understanding of the basic concepts of optics and photonics, that underpins photonic applications and systems, including,  scattering, reflection and refraction, absorption, light propagation through materials and optical fibers, light generation in lasers, light detection with photodiodes  etc.

In addition, the student must be able to show that:

  • he/she can master and apply advanced knowledge in the field of photonics to addess more complex problems;
  • he/she can specify, design and test complex photonic components and systems;
  • he/she understands and is able to apply the properties of the most important optical materials;
  • he/she is familiar with the most important application areas of photonic materials, components and systems;
  • he/she also understands non-optical aspects of photonic systems, in particular electronic, mechanical and thermal aspects;
  • he/she is able to select and apply the most adeqate models, methods and techniques given a particular photonic problem;
  • he/she can talk about the field of photonics, also in English;
  • he/she can interprete the historical evolution of photonics and its social relevance;
  • he/she can act in an ethical, professional and social way;
  • he/she has acquired enough knowledge and comprehension to control the results of complex calculations or make approximate estimates;
  • he/she pays attention to durability and sustainability;
  • he/she shows assertiveness, has a drive for innovation and a sense for the creation of added value.

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Oral Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Oral Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • mondeling examen with a relative weight of 1 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

    Note: The exam consists of 1 main question and 4 additional questions: The main question probes the student's understanding of one main topic of the taught material, while the 4 supplementary questions check whether the student has a good overview of the newly introduced concepts and whether he/she can place them well in the whole of photonic applications.

Additional info regarding evaluation
  • oral exam with written preparation 
  • closed book 
  • total grade on 20: 
    • 1 main question on 10 (50% of the total grade) 
    • 4 additional questions each on 2,5 (combined 50% of the total grade)
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Physics and Astronomy: Default track (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Photonics Engineering: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Teaching in Science and Technology: ingenieurswetenschappen (120 ECTS, Etterbeek) (only offered in Dutch)