Introduction to Photonics

Course Description

ETS2210C — Introduction to Photonics — is a 3-credit combined lecture/laboratory course in the Engineering Technologies taxonomy (Specialty Engineering Technology). It provides a foundational survey of photonics: the science and technology of generating, controlling, and detecting light. Students explore the nature of light as rays, waves, and photons; the principles and operation of lasers and optical sources; fiber optic transmission; optical detectors; and the application of photonic systems across industry. Hands-on laboratory activities reinforce theoretical concepts using instruments and equipment representative of industry practice. This course is aligned with the Florida Statewide Course Numbering System (SCNS) and the workforce competency standards of the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education (OP-TEC/LASER-TEC).

Learning Outcomes

Required Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Describe the fundamental properties of light, including its wave-particle duality, speed, wavelength, frequency, and the electromagnetic spectrum.
• Apply the principles of geometrical (ray) optics — reflection, refraction, and Snell's Law — to analyze how light interacts with mirrors, lenses, and prisms.
• Explain the operating principles of common laser types (HeNe, Nd:YAG, CO₂, diode) including stimulated emission, population inversion, optical resonators, and laser modes.
• Describe the structure and operation of optical fiber waveguides, including step-index and graded-index fiber, numerical aperture, and modes of propagation.
• Identify and explain the operating principles of common photodetectors (photodiodes, phototransistors, CCDs) and light sources (LEDs, laser diodes).
• Demonstrate safe practices for laser and optical laboratory work, including ANSI Z136.1 laser safety classifications, personal protective equipment (PPE), and hazard controls.
• Perform standard photonics laboratory measurements using instruments such as optical power meters, beam analyzers, oscilloscopes, and spectrometers.
• Identify industrial applications of photonics in telecommunications, manufacturing, medicine, defense, and sensing.

Optional Learning Outcomes

Depending on institutional emphasis, students may also be able to:

• Analyze interference and diffraction phenomena, including Young's double-slit experiment, diffraction gratings, and their use in spectrometers.
• Explain the principles of polarization and use polarizing optical components (waveplates, polarizers) in laboratory settings.
• Describe the fundamentals of fiber-optic communication systems, including sources, modulators, connectors, splices, and detectors.
• Align and troubleshoot basic optical systems and perform beam-steering, focusing, and coupling into fiber.
• Interpret and record technical data in a laboratory notebook and prepare written lab reports meeting industry standards.
• Describe emerging photonics applications such as biophotonics, LiDAR, photovoltaics, and integrated photonics.

Major Topics

Required Topics

1. Nature of Light — Electromagnetic spectrum; wave properties (wavelength, frequency, amplitude, phase); photon energy; coherence and monochromaticity; speed of light.
2. Geometrical Optics — Reflection and the law of reflection; refraction and Snell's Law; total internal reflection; lenses (converging/diverging); mirrors; prisms; image formation.
3. Physical (Wave) Optics — Superposition and interference; Young's double-slit experiment; thin-film interference; diffraction and the single-slit pattern; diffraction gratings and spectrometers.
4. Polarization — States of polarization; polarizers; Malus's Law; waveplates; applications in optical systems.
5. Laser Principles and Types — Spontaneous and stimulated emission; population inversion; optical resonators and cavity modes; laser beam properties (divergence, coherence, Gaussian profile); HeNe, Nd:YAG, CO₂, and diode lasers.
6. Optical Fibers — Fiber structure (core, cladding, coating); step-index vs. graded-index; numerical aperture; single-mode vs. multimode fiber; attenuation and dispersion; connectors and splices.
7. Optical Sources and Detectors — Light-emitting diodes (LEDs); laser diodes; photodiodes; phototransistors; charge-coupled devices (CCDs); responsivity; noise considerations.
8. Laser Safety — ANSI Z136.1 laser hazard classifications (Class 1–4); beam hazards and non-beam hazards; MPE (maximum permissible exposure); required PPE; laser safety officer roles; laboratory safety protocols.
9. Photonics Measurements and Instrumentation — Optical power meters; beam profilers/analyzers; spectrometers; oscilloscopes applied to optical signals; optical alignment techniques.
10. Photonics Industry and Applications — Telecommunications and fiber networks; laser manufacturing and materials processing; medical imaging and laser surgery; defense and LiDAR sensing; display technologies.

Optional Topics

• Fiber-Optic Communication Systems — System architecture; optical transmitters and receivers; wavelength-division multiplexing (WDM); link-budget analysis.
• Optoelectronic Devices — Solar cells and photovoltaics; optical modulators; photodetector arrays; semiconductor optoelectronics fundamentals.
• Imaging Systems — Camera optics; microscopes; telescopes; resolution and depth of field; image sensors.
• Biophotonics — Interaction of light with biological tissue; optical coherence tomography (OCT); fluorescence microscopy; laser surgical applications.
• Integrated Photonics — Photonic integrated circuits (PICs); waveguides on chip; applications in data communications and sensing.
• Laser Systems Maintenance — Alignment procedures for Nd:YAG, HeNe, and CO₂ lasers; tuning for maximum output power; preventive maintenance and service records.

Resources & Tools

Recommended Textbooks

• Fundamentals of Light and Lasers — OP-TEC / LASER-TEC (primary technician-level text used across Florida and national OPCN institutions)
• Fundamentals of Photonics, 3rd ed. — Saleh & Teich, Wiley (standard university reference text)
• OP-TEC Module Series (open curriculum modules available through the National Science Foundation ATE program)

Laboratory Equipment

• HeNe, Nd:YAG, and CO₂ laser systems with safety interlocks
• Optical power meters and energy measurement devices
• Beam profilers / beam analyzers
• Spectrometers and grating mounts
• Optical fiber toolkits (cleavers, splicers, connectors, VFL sources)
• Oscilloscopes and signal generators
• Optical breadboards, mounts, and alignment hardware
• Laser safety eyewear (wavelength-appropriate OD-rated)

Professional Organizations & Standards

• SPIE — The International Society for Optics and Photonics (spie.org); technician scholarship and curriculum resources
• Optica (formerly OSA) — Optica Publishing Group; journals and educational resources
• LASER-TEC — NSF-ATE Center for Laser and Fiber Optics Education at Indian River State College, FL
• ANSI Z136.1 — American National Standard for Safe Use of Lasers
• IEEE Photonics Society — Technical publications and career resources

Career Pathways

Completion of ETS2210C prepares students for entry-level photonics technician roles and serves as a foundation for advanced courses in laser technologies, fiber optics, and optoelectronics. Representative career pathways include:

• Photonics / Laser Technician — Manufacturing, test, and alignment of laser systems and optical components (e.g., Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, L3Harris, Jenoptik)
• Electronics Engineering Technician — Optoelectronics assembly, testing, and quality assurance in electronics manufacturing
• Fiber Optics Technician — Installation, splicing, and troubleshooting of fiber-optic communication infrastructure
• Optical Manufacturing Technician — Lens fabrication, coating, and inspection in precision optics manufacturing
• Biomedical Photonics Technician — Maintenance and operation of laser surgical and diagnostic equipment in healthcare settings
• Defense / Aerospace Electro-Optics Technician — LiDAR, targeting, and imaging system support for defense contractors

This course also fulfills a prerequisite or co-requisite role for advanced ETS-prefix courses in the Electronics Engineering Technology A.S. degree and the Lasers and Photonics Certificate at Florida state colleges such as Indian River State College.

Special Information

Laser Safety Certification

The laser safety content in this course is aligned with ANSI Z136.1 standards. Students who complete the laboratory safety module may be prepared to pursue the Laser Safety Officer (LSO) awareness training offered by the Laser Institute of America (LIA), headquartered in Orlando, Florida. Employers in manufacturing and defense typically require ANSI-compliant laser safety training as a condition of employment.

OP-TEC / LASER-TEC Alignment

Course content is compatible with the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education (OP-TEC) curriculum framework, an NSF Advanced Technological Education (ATE) initiative. The LASER-TEC Center at Indian River State College (Fort Pierce, FL) serves as the primary Florida hub for photonics technician education and curriculum development, and institutions in the Optics and Photonics College Network (OPCN) use standardized lab experiments drawn from Fundamentals of Light and Lasers.

SPIE Scholarship Eligibility

Students enrolled in this course as part of a photonics technician associate degree or certificate program may be eligible for the Eichenholz-SPIE Photonics Technician Scholarship (up to $2,500), awarded annually by SPIE to support tuition, textbooks, and laboratory supplies.

Transfer Pathway Note

Students pursuing transfer to a four-year photonics or engineering program (e.g., UCF's B.S. in Photonic Science and Engineering via the CREOL / College of Engineering pathway) should consult their advisor regarding articulation agreements. Courses transferred must be formally evaluated for equivalency credit at the receiving institution.