Module: Photonic Devices

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Photonic Devices
Module Code	EEN1067 (ITS: EE506)
Faculty	Electronic Engineering	School	Engineering & Computing
NFQ level	9	Credit Rating	7.5

Description

The use of semiconductor devices in optical communications and the recent development in semiconductor materials have brought up the need to understand the technology of these components. This module aims to equip students with a deep understanding of the science of these devices and their integration in optical communication networks.

Learning Outcomes

1. select semiconductor materials for light emission and detection applications based on an understanding of photoemission photoabsorption and band structure.
2. be capable of solving various problems related to light emitting and light detecting device designs.
3. mathematically analyse various types of semiconductor lasers and detectors.
4. identify key principles of optical communication devices.
5. identify and distinguish various optical data processing schemes.
6. identifiy growth and processing technologies for light emitter and detector fabrication
7. analyse the propagation of an electromagnetic wave in free space, at a media interfaces, and in various guides.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	36	No Description
Independent Study	151	No Description
Total Workload: 187

Section Breakdown
CRN	11044	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Pascal Landais	Module Teacher

Section Breakdown
CRN	11827	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Pascal Landais	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Performance evaluation	Series of questions to be solved	25%	Week 1
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	75%	End-of-Semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Duality of light
Description of light as an electromagnetic wave. Introduction from Maxwell's equation to Helmholtz's equation. Limitation of the electromagnetic approach, introduction of the quantum aspect of light. Definition of photon.

Interaction light matter
Derivation of Einstein's coefficent. Conditions for light emission or detection.Optical properties of semiconductors materials, definition of band-gap direct or indirect and their use for light emission and detection.

Physics of semiconductor devices
Features of various types of light-emitting diode, lasers and semiconductor amplifiers. Overview of LED/LASER manufacturing. Physics of double hetero-junction lasers: their simulation based on rate-equation in time and frequency domains, noise origin and simulation. Physics of light detectors, photodiode and avalanche photodiode, sensitivity, response time, wavelength selection using optical filters, bandwidth and insertion loss of optical filters.

Use of semiconductor lasers for telecommunications
Short pulse generation by Q-switching and passive or active mode-locking schemes. Physics of external modulators. All optical function generated by semiconductor lasers, wavelength cobnversion, and clock recovery for instance. Applications of semiconductor devices in OTDM or WDM.

Semiconductor material
Overview of active materials bulk, quantum well, wire dot and quatum dot. description of photonics band-gap materials

Indicative Reading List

Books:

G.P. Agrawal and N.K. Dutta: 0, Long wavelength semiconductor laser, van Nostrand,
J. Wilson and J. Hawkes: 0, Optoelectronics an introduction, Prentice Hall,
Midwinter, J.E: 0, Opto Electronics and Lightwave Technology, Wiley,
Saleh, B.E. & Teich, M.: 0, Fundamentals of Photonics, Wiley,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None