OptoSci educator kits – an immediate solution to photonics teaching laboratories (original) (raw)
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Photonics Laboratory Education with a Research-Oriented Approach
Proceedings. Frontiers in Education. 36th Annual Conference, 2006
In this paper, the content of two laboratory courses developed at the Department of Electronics of the Technological Educational Institute of Crete, Greece, focused on optoelectronics and optical communications, respectively, is presented. Both of these laboratory courses were developed with the philosophy of introducing a research-oriented approach. Emphasis is given on handson experimentation. In such a way, students get a better understanding of the various theoretical concepts (generation of light through single mode Continuous Wave lasers, transmission of optical power, etc.), and become able to analyze and solve problems associated with photonics components and their integration to optical systems. Coupling of experimentation and research is facilitated with a Marie Curie EU-funded grant for the establishment of a Centre of Excellence via the transfer of knowledge in the scientific area of optoelectronics and lasers. Our approach is presented by referring to specific laboratory exercises, such as the experimental study of a variable optical attenuator developed for research purposes, the development of an X-ray high power x-pinch optolectronic device, etc.).
Photonics explorer: Revolutionizing photonics in the classroom
Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering, 2012
The 'Photonics Explorer' is a unique intra-curricular optics kit designed to engage, excite and educate secondary school students about the fascination of working with light-hands-on, in their own classrooms. Developed with a pan European collaboration of experts, the kit equips teachers with class sets of experimental material provided within a supporting didactic framework, distributed in conjunction with teacher training courses. The material has been specifically designed to integrate into European science curricula. Each kit contains robust and versatile components sufficient for a class of 25-30 students to work in groups of 2-3. The didactic content is based on guided inquiry-based learning (IBL) techniques with a strong emphasis on hands-on experiments, team work and relating abstract concepts to real world applications. The content has been developed in conjunction with over 30 teachers and experts in pedagogy to ensure high quality and ease of integration. It is currently available in 7 European languages. The Photonics Explorer allows students not only to hone their essential scientific skills but also to really work as scientists and engineers in the classroom. Thus, it aims to encourage more young people to pursue scientific careers and avert the imminent lack of scientific workforce in Europe. 50 Photonics Explorer kits have been successfully tested in 7 European countries with over 1500 secondary school students. The positive impact of the kit in the classroom has been qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated. A non-profit organisation, EYESTvzw [Excite Youth for Engineering Science and Technology], is responsible for the large scale distribution of the Photonics Explorer.
Photonics laboratory teaching experiments for scientists and engineers
SPIE Proceedings, 2002
In response to industry's need for scientists and engineers skilled in the design, manufacture and operation of photonics systems, Strathclyde University and OptoSci Ltd. have developed a suite of Photonics Educator Kits, which enable students to experimentally investigate all of the major technical features, principles and design issues of optical waveguides, optical communications systems, erbium doped fiber amplifiers and lasers. To support these applications experiments we have recently added a range ofkits enabling students to experimentally investigate the basics of physical optics covering reflection, refraction, polarisation, diffraction, coherence and interference. In this paper, we will describe the educational objectives and the design philosophies behind the development of these kits. To illustrate these, full details of the experimental procedures, the results and the benefits to the student will be discussed for the recently upgraded optical communications kit and the erbium doped fiber amplifier (EDFA) system, in particular addressing the crucially important noise characteristics of optical amplifiers. 1. INI'RODUCTION Modern Optics and Photonics currently drive major technical advancement in such a diversity of technologies as telecommunications, measurement science, industrial and environmental sensing, medical diagnostics and bio-sciences. In particular, the world's main trunk telecommunications systems, the global internet and mobile phone communications systems are all founded on Photonics networks. Companies operating in these fields have an ever increasing demand for highly skilled scientists and engineers who can design, build, analyse, install and operate photonic systems. There is no doubt that the learning experience ofthese professional technologists is greatly enhanced during their graduate or undergraduate studies by exposure to hands on, practical experience of photonics components and systems. Strathclyde University, in collaboration with OptoSci Ltd., have developed a suite of Photonics Educator Kits which enable students to experimentally investigate all of the major technical features, principles and design issues of optical waveguides, optical communications systems, erbium doped fiber amplifiers and lasers. These applications kits are now supported by a range of experiments examining the fundamentals of physical optics, covering reflection, refraction, polarisation, diffraction, coherence and interference. In the development of all of these systems we adhere to a strict design philosophy and procedure, which ensures that all ofthe important educational objectives are met. A working knowledge and understanding of the components of a fiber optic communications system and the limits imposed on the system performance by the component characteristics are invaluable for any student going on to work with photonic systems. Hence, two of the most important kits address optical communications systems and their component parts including optical amplifiers. Details of a previous version of the optical communications system kit and some aspects ofthe EDFA kit have been reported in the past1'2 Recently, we have upgraded the communications kit to use 62.5/125pm graded index fiber (replacing the multi mode step index fiber). This enables the students to more clearly explore the separate effects of material and modal dispersion and their effects on the system performance. The most important characteristic of optical amplifiers as regards the limitations they impose on system performance is noise. Recent adaptations to the EDFA kit enable students to investigate the noise characteristics of the amplifier and simple exercises based on their noise measurements allow them to appreciate the effects of amplifier noise on the overall system performance. Here we describe these two kits in detail covering educational objectives, design philosophies, the hardware involved, the experimental procedures followed by students and sample results. For the EDFA kit we will concentrate on the noise characteristics as the gain characteristics have been addressed in previous publications1' 2
Developing a photonics education program at college level from the ground up
Optics Education and Outreach III, 2014
While graduate level optics and photonics education in the state of Michigan has a rich tradition, college level programs that produce photonics technicians are virtually non-existent. Baker College has started the first two-year photonics program in the state in fall 2013. The program is leveraging support from Mi-Light, the Michigan Photonics Cluster; OP-TEC, the National Center for Optics and Photonics Education; and an NSF Project Grant awarded to the College. In its first year the photonics program has achieved important milestones-convening an Advisory Board with industry participation, developing almost the entire curriculum, and creating a fully functional optics and photonics laboratory. Outreach activities have also taken place. The paper will describe the steps taken to introduce the new program and the lessons learned along the way.
Photonics laboratory with emphasis on technical diversity
IEEE Transactions on Education, 1998
The authors describe a recently developed laboratory course in photonics aimed primarily at seniors in electrical engineering. Each student performs four out of seven possible experiments during the quarter in changing teams. The experiments were designed with the following goals: to expose students to widest possible variety of technologically important topics in optics; to allow students the opportunity to use
Optical Design Tools For Photonics Engineering Education
2002 Annual Conference Proceedings
Java TM Educational Applets have demonstrated that they are powerful tools for the development of web-based educational materials and design tools because these resources can be accessed by anyone who has access to the World Wide Web (WWW) and they present the matter in dynamic visual appealing manner. In this paper, we will review a comprehensive set of photonics applets, an accompanying website and a necessary framework dealing with the development of optical design tools which are available for online teaching, experimentation and research. To date, the design tools developed cover ray tracing, Gaussian beams, polarization, gain medium and gain dynamics, modulators and optical cavities. In addition, the resources include a number of demonstration applets such as photon lifetime, wave interference, Snell's law and others. The main advantages of embedding design into optics courses, by using simulation software, are that the underlying and fundamental principles are made easy to understand by creating a platform on which students can experiment with the various facts and design new systems which may otherwise require a large and an expensive setup of laboratory equipment and at the same time making the theoretical courses more interesting to learn. Moreover, we are simultaneously attempting to develop tools that researchers can use to readily simulate complicated systems which may otherwise require hours of work.
Fifteenth Conference on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics: ETOP 2019, 2019
A modular laboratory curriculum with exercises for students and lesson plans for teachers is presented. Fundamentals of basic integrated photonic (IP) devices can be taught, first as a lecture-in-the-lab followed by “hands-on” laboratory measurements. This comprehensive curriculum utilizes data collected from the “AIM Photonics Institute PIC education chip” that was designed specifically for the purpose of education, and was fabricated at AIM SUNY Poly. Training using this modular curriculum will be performed through the AIM Photonics Academy network in New York (NY) and Massachusetts (MA), either as a full semester course or as a condensed boot-camp. A synergistic development and delivery of this curriculum will coherently leverage multiple resources across the network and can serve as a model for education and workforce development in other Manufacturing USA institutes, as well as for overseas partners.
Advancing teaching opportunities through pre-commercial photonic devices
Tenth International Topical Meeting on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics, 2015
The Photonics Technology Access Program [PTAP] provides academic researchers with pre-commercial photonic devices. Since one of the goals of PTAP is to promote teaching, the program has developed several approaches to expand teaching opportunities with the processes used to provide the devices.
2014
The Photonics Explorer is an intra-curricular educational kit developed in a European project with a pan-European collaboration of over 35 teachers and science education professors. Unlike conventional educational outreach kits, the Photonics Explorer is specifically designed to integrate seamlessly in school curricula and enhance and complement the teaching and learning of science and optics in the classroom. The kit equips teachers with class sets of experimental components, provided within a supporting didactic framework and is designed for lower and upper secondary students (12‒18 years). The kit is provided completely free of charge to teachers in conjunction with teacher training courses. The workshop will provide an overview of the Photonics Explorer intra-curricular kit and give teachers the opportunity to work hands-on with the material and didactic content of two modules, ‘Light Signals’ (lower secondary) and ‘Diffraction and Interference’(upper secondary). We also aim to ...
Evolution of a photonics education program
Tenth International Topical Meeting on Education and Training in Optics and Photonics, 2015
The Photonics Technology program at Niagara College was first launched in 2001. Since that time, in an attempt to meet the joint needs of industry and students, Niagara has developed the technology program into a cluster of four programs related to photonic technology. Niagara is also building relationships with universities to deliver photonic course material to physics undergrad students using Niagara College Photonics facilities and faculty to create an undergraduate specialization in lasers. This paper will review the development of the photonics cluster at Niagara College and present the current state of its evolution.