35018 - Optical Signal Processing (graduate course)

Learning outcomes

The course aims to introduce the basic concepts necessary to understand the behavior of some devices or components particularly interesting for optical systems or sensors. This will also allow to introduce methods and techniques to design new devices for telecommunications and, more generally, optical signal processing.

Course contents

Basic theory 
• Tensors and anisotropic materials
  Tensor calculus basic principles.
  Tensors and matrices.
  Crystal symmetries and tensors.
• Coupled Mode Theory 
  Reciprocity Theorem.
  Coupled Mode Equations. Co- and Counter-directional coupling.
• Modulators
  Electromagnetic field propagation in infinite, homogeneous, linear anisotropic materials: wave vector surface.
  Anisotropy and relevant tensors.
  Tensor representation quadric and magnitude ellipsoid.
  Jones Vectors.
  Electro-optic effect.
  Applications: "bulk" and integrated optical modulators.
• Non linear optics 
  Second and third order non linear effects.
  Applications in all optical signal proicessing and telecommunications.
• Photonic Crystals
  Periodic Structures.
  Calculation of the electromagnetic field in a periodic structure.
  Plane wave expansion method and basic principles of numerical techniques.
  Devices based of photonic crystals and Photonic Crystal Fibers.
  Applications for telecommunication devices.

Readings/Bibliography

Lecture notes: available at the website http://elearning.ing.unibo.it (password protected, restricted to course students)

Further material available at the website http://pbassi.deis.unibo.it/Avvisi_agli_studenti.htm (password protected, restricted to course students)

Books:

• A. Yariv, P. Yeh, Optical waves in crystals, John Wiley & Sons, 1984
• J. D. Joannopoulos, R. D. Meade, J. N. Winn, Photonic crystals. Molding the flow of light, Princeton Univ. Press, 1995. The second edition can be read on the web at http://ab-initio.mit.edu/book/
  
• A. Bjarklev, J. Broeng, A. Sanchez Bjarklev, Photonic Crystal Fibres, Springer, 2003

Teaching methods

During the lectures some devices for optical systems or sensors are illustrated.

Problem sessions run in parallel to lectures (either in the classroom or in th elab) on th etechnologies used to fabricate integrated optical components. After simulating technological processes to fabricate integrated optical planar and guided optical devices, some experimental measurements will be performed to characterize simple real devices.

The description of the general features of different devices aims at demonstrating how apparently different physical phenomena can be modelled practically by the same equations. The same theoretical models can then be applied to study phenomena or devices which looks quite different: this provides more general instrumens to engineers and designers.

Assessment methods

Oral exam, to check knowledge of the course topics and student's ability to discuss them.

Teaching tools

Applets, Personal Computer and Laboratories

Office hours

See the website of Paolo Bassi