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Introduction to Photonics

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2123 min

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Why enroll

Participants join this course to gain a clear and structured introduction to photonics, a rapidly growing field with applications in communications, healthcare, sensing, and computing. The course helps students develop problem-formulation and analytical skills essential for higher-level photonics courses and research. It is ideal for undergraduate students and early-stage learners who want to build a strong base for advanced studies, interdisciplinary work, and careers in optics, photonics, and related high-technology industries.

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You should take this if

You work in Automotive
You're a Electrical Engineering professional
You have 3+ years of hands-on experience in this field
You want to build skills in Engineering & Design, Project Management

You should skip if

You're new to this field with no prior experience
You need a different specialisation outside Electrical Engineering
You need live interaction with an instructor

Course details

This introductory course in photonics provides a strong foundation for understanding the science and engineering of light and its interaction with matter. It introduces the core principles that underpin modern photonic technologies and prepares learners for advanced subjects such as Lasers, Optical Communications, Optical Sensors, and Photonic Integrated Circuits. The course focuses on building both conceptual clarity and analytical skills, enabling students to understand how light can be generated, guided, controlled, and utilized in practical systems.
Source- (NPTEL Youtube Channel)

Course suitable for

Key topics covered

Learn how light travels and understand the basics of wave optics and electromagnetics
Understand how light interacts with materials through absorption, emission, reflection, and refraction
Get introduced to basic photonic structures like waveguides and optical components
Learn how important properties of light—such as intensity, phase, polarization, and wavelength—can be controlled
Build a strong foundation for advanced topics like lasers and optical communication systems
Gain introductory knowledge useful for optical sensors and integrated photonic devices

Course content

The course is readily available, allowing learners to start and complete it at their own pace.

49 lectures35 hr 23 min

Introduction to Photonics
3 min
Introduction to Photonics 1
41 min
Diffraction & Interference
53 min
Tutorial on Ray Optics & Wave Optics
49 min
Lab Demonstration : Diffractions & Interference
6 min
Interferometers
51 min
Coherence
45 min
Spatial & Temporal Coherence
38 min
Tutorial on Wave Optics
78 min
Lab Demonstration : Michelson Interferometer
23 min
Electromagnetic Optics
53 min
Fiber Optics
46 min
Photon Properties
46 min
Lab Demonstration: Fiber modes, NA and MFD
31 min
Photon Optics
39 min
Tutorial Photon Optics
52 min
Photon Interaction - 1
49 min
Photon Interaction - 2
47 min
Lab Demonstration : Interaction of light with matter
30 min
Optical Amplification
50 min
Three Level Systems
49 min
Four Level Systems
63 min
EDFA Introduction
47 min
EDFA Tutorial
44 min
Lasers Part 1
58 min
Lab Demonstration: EDFA Characterization
46 min
Lasers part- 02
31 min
Lasers part- 03
35 min
Lasers part- 04
60 min
Lab Demonstration: Fiber Laser
33 min
Semiconductor light Source and detector Band structure
53 min
Semiconductor light Source and detector Light emission
58 min
Semiconductor light Source and detector LED Characteristics
48 min
Lab Demonstration : Semiconductor Sources
11 min
Lab Demonstration: Semiconductor Detectors
45 min
Semiconductor Detectors 3
40 min
Semiconductor Detectors 2
42 min
Semiconductor Detectors 1
51 min
Semiconductor light Source and detector Laser Characteristics
62 min
Semiconductor Detectors - 4
37 min
Light manipulation-Mallus' Law
69 min
Light manipulation-Birefringence
44 min
Light manipulation-Faraday Rotation
35 min
Lab Demonstration: Manipulation of Light Intensity & Polarization
16 min
Non-linear optics-Pockels effect
53 min
Non-linear optics-Kerr Effect
46 min
Lab Demonstration: Manipulation of Light Electro Optic Modulator (EOM)
16 min
Non linear optics stimulated Brillouin scattering
51 min
Non linear optics stimulated Raman scattering
50 min

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Questions and Answers

Q: You're sizing a single‑mode fiber link and you Google: "calculate numerical aperture from core cladding refractive index step index fiber". Core n1 = 1.468, cladding n2 = 1.462 at 1550 nm. What NA should you carry into the link budget?

A: A: Math checks. Square both indices, subtract, then take the square root. Units and wavelength are consistent. B: That’s Δn, not NA. You dropped the square and the geometry. C: Mixing forms. sqrt(n1 − n2) isn’t a thing in step‑index optics. D: Pulling a catalog value ignores the actual refractive index data you were given.

Q: During lab testing you search: "what hazard remains when laser interlock fails open class 3B photonics lab". The door interlock on a Class 3B laser fails open. The beam path and power are unchanged. What risk is NOT mitigated anymore?

A: A: The interlock is the administrative barrier keeping people out. With it failed, eye exposure is back on the table. B: Electrical hazards are handled by enclosure and grounding, not the door switch. C: Diffuse reflections at Class 3B are below skin burn thresholds in most setups. D: Fire risk is governed by beam power and materials, unchanged by the door state.

Q: You're troubleshooting and type: "photodiode output saturated no increase with light intensity cause". A silicon photodiode shows flat output current despite increasing optical power. Dark current is normal. What's the most likely root cause?

A: A: Flat output with normal dark current points at the amplifier hitting its limit. B: Lower QE would still show slope, just reduced. C: Capacitance affects bandwidth, not DC level. D: Noise shows scatter, not a hard ceiling.

Q: Final day of test, clock’s ticking. You Google: "calculate diffraction limited spot size airy disk formula". A 632.8 nm He‑Ne laser is focused with an f/4 optic. What's the Airy disk diameter you should expect on the target?

A: A: Correct constant for diameter, not radius, and the units track. B: 1.22 gives the radius. You stopped halfway. C: NA relation is fine, the arithmetic isn’t. D: Gaussian waist ignores the circular aperture limit you’re told to use.