in room Albano Xenon, Albanovägen 29, floor 5, room 5230
Classes. The classes are given by Katia Gallo (KG) and Max Yan (MY). All course activities and teaching material will be available via zoom (link above, same as for the first lecture) & on canvas. Depending on the number of attendants, their wishes and room availability, we may run the classes in hybrid format - we shall decide together on the first lecture and you'll get an announcement prior to each class.
Labs. Besides classes on zoom, the course consists of a simulation lab on photonic crystals (MY) and an experimental lab on supercontinuum generation (Nonlinear Quantum Photonics lab assistants) on which you will get more detailed information from the lab instructors closer the time.
Exam. The examination consists of home assignments distributed during the course and an oral examination at the end of it (January 2023).
Headings denoted with an asterisk ( * ) is retrieved from the course syllabus version Autumn 2019
Content and learning outcomes
Course contents
The course covers the physical principles underlying the operation of basic photonic components such as lasers, modulators, optical fibers and detectors and involving the generation, transmission, manipulation and detection of light.
Specifically, the course covers the following topics:
Electromagnetic optics
Beam optics
Guided-wave optics
Coupled mode theory
Optics of periodic systems
Resonator optics
Acousto-optics
Electro-optics
Nonlinear optics
Ultrafast optics
Generation and detection of light
Intended learning outcomes
After completing the course, the student should be able to
explain the physical principles underlying the generation, transmission, manipulation and detection of light.
choose, derive and apply suitable models to predict and analyze the response of basic photonic components such as optical waveguides, resonators, modulators, frequency converters and switches, optical sources and detectors.
identify and critically discuss the limits of validity and applicability of the different models.
perform basic measurements through hands-on work in a photonic lab.
analyze and present data acquired using lab instruments and generated by simulations.
be able to solve with the necessary literature practical and theoretical problems within the field of photonics.
Learning activities
The course learning activities consist of: teacher-led classes and lectures, labs, pre-lecture quizzes for flipped class and home assignments.
Lectures
The course consists of a total of 12 lectures, taught by Katia Gallo (KG) and Max Yan (MY), in addition to the course introduction. By default (unless otherwise indicated by the teacher) all lecture classes will take place online, with meetings on zoom and material on CANVAS.
Flipped classroom. For some of the lectures, the course will adopt a new lecture concept, which goes by the name of 'Flipped classroom'. Conventional lectures will be replaced with student preparations prior to the classes (with reading material and/or videos posted on CANVAS) and activities (quizzes, discussion and problem solving) to be undertaken during the class. The online classes (on zoom) with the teacher (KG) will be used for feedback and interaction on the course topics (and their difficulties). During such scheduled 'lectures' we will address questions related to the lecture topics with online quizzes (with mentimeters), discuss trickier concepts which might require further clarification and - if time allows - solve together more complex (exam-type) problems, instead of you having to do that on your own.
Nevertheless, for this to work it is of paramount importance that you have studied the assigned material before the zoom-lecture.
Bonus points. Attendance and active participation to each flipped classroom lecture will give you 0.1 bonus points that will count towards the final grade.
Pre-lecture Assignments
You will be provided with a list of reading / video-watching assignments in preparation of each lecture.
Quizzes
Quizzes in class will be implemented with mentimeters. Fior that you'll need a mobile phone at hand during the zoom class session.
Home assignments
A total of six problem tasks will be distributed as home assignments during the course via the CANVAS assignment pages. For each problem you will get max 1.0 points. There will be three home assignment sets, each consisting of two problems and you'll have more than three weeks to hand-in your solutions. Work and discussion in groups is allowed during that time, but you'll have to hand in your solutions individually, by the given deadline (specified in CANVAS). In case of late hand-in, points will be further deducted from you solution score, according to the rules specified in the course.
Labs
The learnign activities of the course comprise also two labs. Lab 1 concerns the simulation of optical devices using COMSOL. Lab 2 concerns actual experiments (in groups of 2-3 people) in the nonlinear quantum photonics lab using a supercontinuum light source. For both cases you'll find preparation material and further instructions in CANVAS prior to the actual lab session.
Detailed plan
Learning activities
Content
Preparations
Lectures
Course contents listed above
Study material and videos to watch before the flipped-classroom lectures
Quizzes
Katia's lecture topics
Study material before flipped classroom
Home assignments
Course content
Course study material , lecture attendance
Lab 1
Photonic simulations
COMSOL installation, further instructions in CANVAS
INL1 - Assignments, 2.5 credits, Grading scale: P, F
LAB1 - Laboratory work, 1.0 credits, Grading scale: P, F
TEN1 - Examination, 4.0 credits, Grading scale: A, B, C, D, E, FX, F
Based on recommendation from KTH’s coordinator for disabilities, the examiner will decide how to adapt an examination for students with documented disability.
The examiner may apply another examination format when re-examining individual students.
The examiner, in consultation with the KTH Disability Coordinator (Funka), decides on any adapted examination for students with documented permanent impairment. The examiner may grant another examination form for reexamination of single students.
The section below is not retrieved from the course syllabus:
Assignments ( INL1 )
The grade is Pass/Fail. To pass you'll need to have gained at least 3.0 points (over the maximum value of 6.0 points) by solving the problem tasks distributed in the course. The correct solution of one problem task gives max 1.0 points.
Laboratory work ( LAB1 )
The grade is Pass/Fail. To pass you'll need to have taken both labs (simulations and supercontinuum), handed in a written report and got a pass grade on it.
Examination ( TEN1 )
The grade is A-F and is determined by the total of points gained by:
solving the home assignments (max 6 points)
taking the final oral exam (max 4 points)
To pass the course you'll need to have gained a total of at least 5 points. The grades A-E are determined by a scale detailed in CANVAS, based on the total amount of points gained via the home assignment and the final exam.
Other requirements for final grade
The course is examined by written exam (TEN1; 4 credits, grade scale A / B / C / D / E / Fx / F), as well as approved assignments (INL1; 2.5 credits, grade scale P / F) and laboratory work (LAB1; 1, 0 credits, grade scale P / F). The rating on TEN1 determines the grade on the course.
Opportunity to complete the requirements via supplementary examination
You can complete the requirements for the final exam via a supplementary examination to upgrade an Fx mark to passed (E grade).
Opportunity to raise an approved grade via renewed examination
Yes
Ethical approach
All members of a group are responsible for the group's work.
In any assessment, every student shall honestly disclose any help received and sources used.
In an oral assessment, every student shall be able to present and answer questions about the entire assignment and solution.
