During the autumn and spring semesters, you will complete 120 credits worth of taught modules.
After completing the taught components of the course, you will undertake a major piece of advanced independent research under the supervision of a specialist in your chosen area.
We will provide you with advice and guidance while you select and refine your area of study, and offer close supervision and support as you complete your research and your MSc.
The MSc Photonic and Optical Engineering is taught on a full-time basis over one year.
This course is operated on a modular basis and consists of two semesters during which you will follow a series of taught modules (worth 120 credits), followed by a 60 credit research project undertaken during the summer period.
You will be taught using the latest advances in teaching methods and electronic resources, as well as small-group and individual tuition.
Most taught modules are assessed by examination and/or written work.
Tutors provide feedback on assignments. Our objective is to help you develop the confidence to work as a professional academic, at ease with the conventions of the discipline, and ready to tackle any area of research in Photonic and Optical Engineering.
In the early stages of your project dissertation, your supervisor will read through and comment on your draft work. The project dissertation itself comprises a significant piece of your own research.
We also offer a Postgraduate Diploma Photonic and Optical Engineering.
The module aims to provide an in depth overview of current state-of-the-art integrated photonics technologies and devices.
The module provides:
- introduction to optical integrated circuits;
- review of current issues in monolithic and hybrid technologies;
- review of materials and fabrication techniques for integrated photonics;
- in depth introduction on passive and active devices in integrated photonics;
- an overview of available characterisation techniques;
- overview of a range of commonly used design and simulation methodologies including Finite Difference Beam Propagation Method (FDBPM), Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) method and Spectral Index (SI) method;
- coverage of applications in integrated photonics including switching, biophotonics, correlators and spectrum analysis.
- a review of emerging technologies such are nano-imprint lithography, embossing, micro-resonators, photonic bandgap devices and plasmonics.
This module provides an in depth knowledge of optical communication systems and networks. After some introductory material the topics covered include:
Optical fibres (light propagation in fibres, attenuation, chromatic dispersion, PMD, fibre nonlinearities)
Optical components overview (transmitters (lasers, LEDs), detectors (PIN, APD), optical amplifiers (SOA, EDFA, Raman) and optical regeneration, multiplexers, filters, couplers, isolators, circulators, wavelength converters, optical switches etc.)
Modulation and demodulation (signal formats, noise, BER, Q, error detection/codes)
Optical System Design (impairments: extinction ratio, receiver thermal noise, basic receiver sensitivity, optical amplifier noise, crosstalk, dispersion, PMD, nonlinearity (partic. SBS, SRS, FWM), penalties (Q, Power, Eye, OSNR))
Optical networks (WDM network elements, topology design, routing and wavelength allocation, network survivability, access networks).