The course is entirely taught in English. The goal of the course is the presentation of the major integrated photonic devices (semiconductor and passive ) together with their characteristics and methods and techniques used for their design and simulation .

The student in this course will acquire: • A broad information on the optical properties of the main materials exploited in photonic devices: dielectrics, metals, semiconductors. To this aim, an extensive phenomenological treatment is provided on the Lorenz theory for the dielectric response, on the Drude theory of the metal response, and on the band-to-band interactions involved in the response of semiconductors (absorption, spontaneous emission, stimulated emission), including the qualitative behavior of quantum well structures and the related selection rules. An introductory reminder is also provided on the crystal and electronic properties of the relevant materials. • A detailed knowledge on the principles of operation of active photonic devices, including sources (LEDs, lasers), optical amplifiers (SOAs), electro-optic and electro-absorption modulators, receivers (pin and avalanche photodiodes). • A knowledge of the propagation properties of the main waveguiding structures (dielectric waveguides, plasmonic waveguides) and of the passive optical components (MMI components, coupled mode components). • A knowledge of the aspects related to the integration of optoelectronic devices (hybrid and monolithic). • The ability of evaluate the main properties of active and passive photonic devices through simplified analytical approaches • The ability of applying numerical techniques (e.g. the beam propagation method) to the analysis of complex propagating (active and passive) photonic structures.

The course requires the basic elements of semiconductor physics, electronic devices (in particular, the theory of pn junction) and of electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic wave propagation. Concepts like TE and TM propagation are re-introduced in detail for the photonic case but some basics are required.

• Introduction to the course. Materials for photonics: optical properties of metals, dielectrics, semiconductors (1 CFU) • Passive waveguiding structures: dielectric & plasmonic waveguides, MMI devices. Mode coupling, coupled mode components (1.5 CFU) • Detectors: pin, avalanche, structure of a photonic receiver (1 CFU)) • Modulators: electro-optic effect, electro-optic modulators, electro-absorption modulators (0.5 CFU) • The Beam Propagation Method and BPM lab (0.5 CFU) • LEDs, Semiconductor Optical Amplifiers and LASERs (1 CFU) • SOA/LASER numerical lab (0.5 CFU)

A recorded version (academic year 2017/18) of the course is available.

Beside the lectures, the course includes numerical classroom labs devoted to solving simple problems and numerical CAD labs.

Lectures are covered by a set of powerpoint slides available from the course website. Part of the course subjects (optical properties of semiconductors, detectors, modulators) are covered in detail in: • G. Ghione, ‘Semiconductor devices for high-speed optoelectronics’, Cambridge 2009. Additional reference books are: • L.A.Coldren, S.W. Corzine 'Diode Lasers and Photonic integrated Circuits' Wiley 1995 (Chapters 3 - 6) • K.J. Ebeling, 'Integrated Opto-electronics', Springer-Verlag, 1993 (Chapters 5 and 6); • L.A. Coldren, S.W. Corzine 'Diode Lasers and Photonic integrated Circuits', Wiley 1995 (Chapters 3-6).

Modalità di esame: Prova scritta (in aula); Prova orale obbligatoria; Elaborato scritto prodotto in gruppo;

Exam: Written test; Compulsory oral exam; Group essay;

... The examination in based on: 1. a written test on theory (2h), consisting in the written answer to a set of questions; questions are taken verbatim from a set provided already from the beginning of the course in the web site; 2. a short oral (15 m) based on the discussion of the written part and if needed of the CAD reports / homeworks (see following point); 3. the evaluation of a CAD lab reports and of homeworks based on the solution of numerical problems (as discussed in the numerical classroom labs). The relative weight of items 1 and 2 is 4/6 while the weight of item 3 is 2/6. During the written test, no written material is allowed.

Gli studenti e le studentesse con disabilità o con Disturbi Specifici di Apprendimento (DSA), oltre alla segnalazione tramite procedura informatizzata, sono invitati a comunicare anche direttamente al/la docente titolare dell'insegnamento, con un preavviso non inferiore ad una settimana dall'avvio della sessione d'esame, gli strumenti compensativi concordati con l'Unità Special Needs, al fine di permettere al/la docente la declinazione più idonea in riferimento alla specifica tipologia di esame.