Syllabus for Preliminary Examination in
Optoelectronics and Photonics

Revised September 2005

Overview

The Optoelectronics and Photonics preliminary examination will cover basic laser theory, optical properties of semiconductors and quantum wells, optical detection and noises, basic electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics, and electro-optic materials. The primary emphasis will be on semiconductor materials and devices. The materials are roughly equivalent to those covered in EECS 232, 117, and the equivalent of Physics 137A.

Expanded Description

• SEMICONDUCTOR OPTOELECTRONICS: basic semiconductor and device physics, optical properties of semiconductors, p-n junctions, joint optical density of states, optical absorption, amplification, semiconductor lasers, photodetectors and noises, quantum well devices.
• BASIC LASER THEORY: Optical resonators, longitudinal modes, transverse modes, lasing threshold, concept of photon lifetime, rate equation description, direct modulation.
• OPTICS AND E&M: Maxwell’s equations, boundary conditions, dielectric waveguides, optical fibers, Gaussian beam propagation, basic lens formula, ABCD matrices, diffraction theory.
• BASIC QUANTUM MECHANICS: Schrodinger equation, harmonic oscillator, blackbody radiation, occupation statistics (Fermi-Dirac, Bose-Einstein, Maxwell-Boltzman), Fermi's golden rule, Einstein AB coefficients, noises, optical gain and spontaneous emission.
• ELECTRO-OPTIC MATERIALS : Birefringence, index ellipsoid, normal surfaces, optical activity, linear and quadratic electro-optic effect, optical modulators based on the above effects, second harmonic generation.

READING

• Chuang, Physics of Optoelectronic Devices
• Yariv, Optical Electronics, Quantum Electronics
• Ramo, Whinnery and Van Duzer, Fields and Waves in Communication Electronics
• Saleh & Teich, Fundamentals of Photonics

NOTE: The following courses may not be used to fulfill the prelim breadth requirement if you take the optoelectronics prelim: EECS 117, 118, 119, 232, 233, 236A.