This area will summarize my education at Niagara College, in the Photonics Engineering Technology program. I've put this together because the courses taken, and knowledge learned in Photonics isn't widely known.

Summary of Knowledge

• Photonics
  • Laser Systems: Ruby, argon-ion, CO₂, YAG, Excimer, Dye, were the primary lasers discussed in the laser systems course. The course content included: atomic/molecular structures, energy transitions, stable cavity parameters, line width, divergence, gain, mode hopping and inter-cavity noise. Many other topics were discussed such as cavity modes, frequency separation, power, longitudinal and transverse modes, temperature effects, coherence length, blackbody radiation and the Heisenberg Principle. Holography experiments are also covered in the course material.
  • Photon Emission: The underlying quantum theory of an emitted Photon was covered in the context of laser systems design and analysis.
  • Optical Fiber / Properties: Singlemode, multimode and polarization maintaining fibers were thoroughly studied with respect to their chemical composition, optical properties and their manufacturing/maintenance techniques were meticulously covered. Reflection, refraction, diffraction, total internal reflection, dispersion, scattering, absorption, thin- films, polarization, mirrors and lenses were discussed in depth. Some test equipment used included: High speed optical oscilliscopes, OTDR (Optical Time Domain Reflectometer), and Optical Spectrum Analyzers.
  • Components: Splitters/combiners, circulators, attenuators, isolators and WDM/DWDM were discussed with an emphasis on the integration of these components into photonic instrumentation.

• Electronics
  • Electronics studies courses include simple circuit analysis, Thevenin’s theorem, superposition, amplifiers, FET’s, JFET’s, logic gates, operational amplifiers. The courses included circuit construction and troubleshooting.
  • Opto-Electronic networks and configurations have also been studied.
  • Fiber communication systems were studied, based on SONET and FDDI architectures.

• Computer Applications
  • Courses in Visual Basic, Machine code (PIC programming specefically), and PLC (Programmable Logic Controllers) code.
  • PIC and PLC programming included labs with real-world applications in industrial applications.

Summary of Skills

• Perform and design optical experiments using an optical breadboard
• Manufacture/Design/Maintain optical components (ex. thin film coatings)
• Implement new procedures to increase the performance and reliability of components as well as their manufacturing process
• Design or modify laser systems for specefic applications
• Carry out complex calculations to support design/analysis
• Create professional lab reports, and communicate competently by way of technical letters
• Assist SONET architects to create new networks
• Some troubleshooting of optical or electronic devices
• Troubleshoot problems associated with fiber optic systems
• Interface external devices to control processes (most experience in PLC interfacing)

Programs of Study

• Semester 1 (Year 1)
  • Computer Applications (64 Hours)
  • Electronic Fundamentals for Technology (80 Hours)
  • Computer Programming - Visual Basic (64 Hours)
  • Technical Mathematics I (64 Hours)
  • Optics and Waves for Technology (80 Hours)
  • Occupational Health and Safety (48 Hours)
• Semester 2 (Year 1)
  • Applied Communication (64 Hours)
  • Technical Mathematics II (64 Hours)
  • College English (48 Hours)
  • Electro-Technology I (80 Hours)
  • Kinematics and Dynamics (80 Hours)
  • Fiber Optic Principles I (80 Hours)

   

• Semester 3 (Year 2)
  • Electro-Technology II (80 Hours)
  • Technical Mathematics III (Differential Calculus) (48 Hours)
  • Philosophy of Technology (48 Hours)
  • Fundamentals of Light Sources (80 Hours)
  • Fiber Optic Principles II (80 Hours)
  • Data Communications (64 Hours)
• Semester 4 (Year 2)
  • Vacuum Systems / Thin Film Coating Applications (80 Hours)
  • Digital Technology (PIC Programming) (64 Hours)
  • General Education (48 Hours)
  • Technical Mathematics IV (Integral Calculus) (48 Hours)
  • Laser Systems (80 Hours)
  • Manufacturing Photonics Components (80 Hours)

   

• Semester 5 (Year 3)
  • Programmable Logic Controllers (80 Hours)
  • Technical Writing (48 Hours)
  • Statistics (48 Hours)
  • General Education (48 Hours)
  • Advanced Optics (80 Hours)
  • Optoelectronics (64 Hours)
• Semester 6 (Year 3)
  • Heat Transfer (64 Hours)
  • General Education (48 Hours)
  • Photonics Manufacturing Systems (64 Hours)
  • Imaging/Image Processing (64 Hours)
  • Laser/Matter Interaction (64 Hours)
  • Photonics Research Project (80 Hours)