Caroline Ross
Toyota Professor of Materials Science and Engineering MIT
3.15.2x
Optical Materials and Devices
This course is currently available on MITx Online with Certificate enrollment open.
About this course
In this engineering course, you will learn about photodetectors, solar cells (photovoltaics), displays, light emitting diodes, lasers, optical fibers, optical communications, and photonic devices.
This course is part of a three-part series, which explains the basis of the electrical, optical, and magnetic properties of materials including semiconductors, metals, organics, and insulators. We will show how devices are built to take advantage of these properties. This is illustrated with a wide range of devices, placing a strong emphasis on new and emerging technologies.
What you'll learn
- The fundamental operating principles of photodevice
- LED and heterojunction laser materials selection and design
- Fundamentals of organic electronics and liquid crystal displays
- An overview of photonic systems
- Optical fibers: dispersion, losses, and design choices
Syllabus
Week 1
- Photodevices: An Overview
- Photovoltaics: A Closer Look
Week 2
- LEDs
- Introduction to Lasers
- Semiconductor Lasers and Heterostructures
Week 3
- Organic Electronics
- Liquid Crystal Displays
- Optical Fibers
Week 4
- An Overview of Photonic Systems
Course staff