Introduction to Photonics and Nanostructures

Course guarantor:

Ivan Richter

Lecturer:

Luca Mascaretti

Tutor:

Luca Mascaretti

Supervisor:

Department of Laser Physics and Photonics

Synopsis:

The course presents fundamental concepts of photonics, nanofabrication and selected examples of nanophotonic devices. The first part of the course explains the essential physics of light and electron confinement in solids. The second part of the course illustrates the main categories of nanostructures based on their dimensionality (0D, 1D and 2D) and the main experimental techniques to produce them.

Requirements:

Active participation in the lectures and preparation of a paper on a given topic and its presentation at the end of the semester.

Syllabus of lectures:

1. General introduction to the course.

2. Foundations of nanophotonics: the wave nature of light.

3. Foundations of nanophotonics: the wave nature of electrons.

4. Energy levels in solids.

5. Fundamentals of semiconductor devices.

6. 0D systems.

7. 1D systems.

8. 2D systems.

Students presentations on selected topics.

Syllabus of tutorials:

Study Objective:

Knowledge: essential concepts of photonic devices, nanostructured materials and their main synthesis methods and applications.

Skills: understanding how light and electron confinement effects can be used to design various nanophotonic devices.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] Course slides stored in Microsoft Teams

Recommended references:

[2] B. E. A. Saleh, M. C. Teich, Fundamentals of Photonics, 3ed., 2019, Wiley

[3] S. V. Gaponenko, Introduction to Nanophotonics, 2010, Cambridge University Press

[4] S. O. Kasap, Optoelectronics and Photonics, 2ed., 2013, Pearson

[5] P. N. Prasad, Nanophotonics, 2004, Wiley

[6] G. Cao, Nanostructures and Nanomaterials, 2004, Imperial College Press

[7] E. Hecht, Optics, 5ed., 2017, Pearson Press

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans: