Optics & Photonics Lab - 525.636

This is a on-line laboratory course that teaches students “hands-on” skills in optics and photonics by performing weekly experiments at home using custom kits that make use of 3D printed parts, custom opto-electronic boards and RaspberryPi cameras. Critical skills developed through this process include experimental setup and alignment, data collection and analysis (using MATLAB and ImageJ), and quantification of measurement error. Students work in small virtual teams to enhance the laboratory experience with each team member collecting their own data. Nearly a dozen experiments have been selected to provide students with a solid exposure to fundamental principles in optics and photonics and key applications in imaging, communications, and sensing. The emphasis of each experiment is to provide the ability to make quantitative measurements of key properties that can be compared to theoretical models. Topics include radiometry, geometric optics, photodiode sensing circuits, lockin detection technique, diffraction and interferometry, Fourier optics, Mie scattering, polarization, spectroscopy, visible and infrared imaging, visible light wave communications, and Michelson interferometry.

Course Prerequisite(s)

EN.525.691 Fundamentals of Photonics or EN.525.604 Introduction to Optical Instruments or EN.615.671.81 Principles of Optics or EN.615.751.81 Modern Optics or equivalent