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OSE4930 - Frontiers of Optics and Photonics

Introduction to recent advances in optics & photonics, to ethical issues, and to effective communication appropriate to the field of optics & photonics.

Credits: 2 hours

Prerequisites: OSE 3052Introduction to Photonics or PHY 4424 Optics, or EEL 4440 Optical Engineering and Senior standing

Detailed Description:
This course introduces the students to recent advances in optics & photonics. Students will read selected articles in technical magazines, e.g., Optics and Photonics News, SPIE Professional magazine, Physics Today, IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Circuits & Devices, and make seminar-like presentations to the class. Ethical issues associated with research and data management will be discussed and will be addressed in students’ presentations. Students will also be introduced to techniques of effective communication, as appropriate to the discipline.

List of Topics:

  • Historical perspective of the field of Optics and Photonics
  • Guide to publishing research: Refereed vs. non-refereed journals, books, proceedings, conference papers. Peer review process. Ethical issues.
  • Guide to the major journals in Optics and Photonics. Journal quality measures.
  • What makes work publishable? Ethical issues. Data management and reporting.
  • Guide to effective communicating in the field of optics and photonics:
    • Communicating appropriately and effectively with different audiences.
    • Written communications: reports, publications, patents, proposals.
    • Writing abstracts.
    • Oral communication techniques: conference talks & posters, seminars, “elevator speeches” – talking without visual aids. Rubrics as guides to communication effectiveness.
  • Students’ projects: select topics, prepare literature reviews, present oral presentations on topics, write abstracts of presentations.

Learning Outcomes:
Upon completing this course, the students will:

  • Recognize the major journals and publications in the field of Optics and photonics
  • Recognize difference between reviewed and unreviewed work, and understand the per-review system and the associated ethical issues.
  • Apply the styles of writing associated with reports, publications, abstracts, and proposals.
  • Effectively read and analyze a technical paper.
  • Prepare oral presentations in a professional manner appropriate to the field of Optics and Photonics.

Syllabi