Course syllabus
Course-PM
MCC055 MCC055 Optoelectronics lp1 HT23 (7.5 hp)
Course is offered by the department of Microtechnology and Nanoscience
Contact details
Examiner:
Professor Shumin Wang, shumin@chalmers.se, room C434 at MC2
Lecturers:
Professor Shumin Wang, shumin@chalmers.se, room C434 at MC2
Home assignments:
Bilal Aziz, bilalaz@chalmers.se, room B435 at MC2
Tutorial exercises:
Hans Kaimre, kaimre@chalmers.se, room B435 at MC2
Estrella Torres, estrella@chalmers.se, room: B443 at MC2
Laboratory exercises:
Vijay Shekhawat, vijaysh@chalmers.se, room C426 at MC2
Carmen Lopez, haide@chalmers.se, room C435 at MC2
Course purpose
The course aims at providing:
- Good understanding of semiconductor materials used in optoelectronics with a special emphasis on optical properties and processes.
- Basic knowledge of the most important optoelectronic components for generation, modulation and detection of light in the ultraviolet, visible and infrared.
Schedule
Lectures are held according to the following schedule. Relevant chapters in the book are indicated. Lecture notes are posted on the course homepage before each lecture. All lectures are held in room A810 (Luftbryggan) at MC2.
Date Time Topic Lecturer Chapters
Aug. 28 13:15 – 15:00 Introduction SW 1 – 2
Aug. 31 08:00 – 09:45 Bonding and band structure SW 3
Sept. 4 13:15 – 15:00 Electronic properties SW 4
Sept. 7 08:00 – 09:45 Optical properties I SW 5.1 – 5.5
Sept. 11 13:15 – 15:00 Optical properties II SW 5.6 – 5.8
Sept. 14 08:00 – 09:45 Junctions and heterostructures SW 6
Sept. 18 13:15 – 15:00 Optical waveguides and reflectors SW 7
Sept. 21 08:00 – 09:45 Light emitting diodes SW 8
Sept. 25 13:15 – 15:00 Semiconductor lasers I SW 9.1 – 9.6
Sept. 28 08:00 – 09:45 Semiconductor lasers II SW 9.7 – 9.13
Oct. 2 13:15 – 15:00 Semiconductor optical amplifiers SW 10
Oct. 5 08:00 – 09:45 Photodetectors I SW 11.1 – 11.4
Oct. 9 13:15 – 15:00 Photodetectors II and solar cells SW 11.5 – 11.6
Oct. 12 08:00 – 09:45 Optical modulators SW 12
Tutorial exercises are offered where theories and techniques learned during lectures are applied to physics and device oriented problems. Tutorial exercises are held according to the following schedule. All tutorial exercises are held in room A810 (Luftbryggan) at MC2.
Date Time Teacher Topic
August 31 10:00 – 11:45 HK Bonding and band structure in semiconductors
September 4 15:15 – 17:00 HK Electronic properties
September 7 10:00 – 11:45 HK Optical properties
September 11 15:15 – 17:00 HK Optical properties
September 14 10:00 – 11:45 HK Junctions and heterostructures
September 18 15:15 – 17:00 HK Optical waveguides and reflectors
September 21 10:00 – 11:45 ET Light emitting diodes
September 25 15:15 – 17:00 ET Semiconductor lasers
October 2 15:15 – 17:00 ET Semiconductor lasers
October 5 10:00 – 11:45 ET Optical amplifiers and photodetectors
October 19 15:15 – 17:00 ET Photodetectors
October 12 10:00 – 11:45 ET Optical modulators
A total of 5 home assignments are handed out. Home assignments are optional, but students are strongly encouraged to work them through and hand them in for corrections and comments. They provide a valuable learning tool. Each passed home assignment (20 out of 30 points) generates a bonus point at the exam. Home assignments are posted on the course homepage and due according to the following schedule.
| Home assignment no. | Due date |
| 1 | September 11 |
| 2 | September 21 |
| 3 | September 28 |
| 4 | October 19 |
| 5 | October 23 |
There are 2 compulsory laboratory exercises to provide students with hands-on experience from measurements on optoelectronic devices:
- Laboratory exercise 1: Light emitters (October 2-5)
- Laboratory exercise 2: Photodetectors (October 9-12)
Each laboratory exercise is 4 hours. You can sign up for the laboratory exercises on the course homepage from September 7. It is recommended that there are 2 students per group.
Each student, or pair of students, has to carry out a compulsory project where an optoelectronic material or device technology is reviewed through a literature search. A short report is written and a short oral presentation is given to the other students. More information, including detailed instructions and suggested topics, will be available on the course homepage. Presentations will be on September 28 (10:00-11:45) in room A810 (Luftbryggan) at MC2.
Course literature
Course book:
Anders Larsson, Semiconductor Optoelectronics – Device Physics and Technologies
The book is available at STORE at a price of 500 kr.
The following can be downloaded from the course homepage:
- Course information
- Lecture notes
- Home assignments
- Manuals for laboratory exercises
- Instructions for projects
- Tutorial exercises
- Sample examinations
Course design
The course contains the following elements:
- Lectures (optional, but strongly recommended)
- Tutorial exercises (optional, but strongly recommended)
- Home assignments (optional, but strongly recommended)
- Laboratory exercises (compulsory)
- Project (compulsory)
- Examination (compulsory)
Learning objectives and syllabus
Learning objectives:
- Choose the most appropriate semiconductor material and semiconductor structure for an optoelectronic device with a certain performance
- Describe the optical absorption and emission characteristics of a given semiconductor material under certain excitation conditions
- Predict the most fundamental performance characteristics of a given optoelectronic device design from first-order calculations
- Choose the most appropriate optoelectronic device for a specific application and understand possibilities and limitations offered by that particular device
- Perform measurements to investigate the basic properties of light emitting and detecting devices
Examination form
The learning outcomes are assessed through a written examination, and the grade is based upon the result of this exam. The exam consists of 6 problems, worth a total of 60 points. Limits for the grades 3, 4 and 5 are at 40%, 60% and 80% respectively. The passing grade is thereby at 24 points. Passed home assignments can give up to 5 extra points on the exam. To pass the course the student has to pass the exam as well as the two laboratory exercises and the project work.
The written examination is held on October 26 (afternoon) and is 4 hours in duration. Sign up latest on October 8. A second examination is scheduled on January 4 (afternoon), 2024.
The following material is allowed: course book, mathematical handbook and calculator approved by Chalmers.
Course summary:
| Date | Details | Due |
|---|---|---|