The University Senate of Michigan Technological University
Proposal 64-21
A New Graduate Certificate: Frontiers in Optics and Photonics
Submitted by: Department of Physics
Co-sponsored by:
Department of Materials Science and Engineering
Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
1. Version Date: March 29, 2021
2. Proposer Contacts: Ramy El-Ganainy (ganainy@mtu.edu), Miguel Levy (mlevy@mtu.edu), Jae Yong Suh (jsuh@mtu.edu), Jacek Borysow (jborysow@mtu.edu), Ranjit Pati (patir@mtu.edu), Yoke Khin Yap (ykyap@mtu.edu), and Ravi Pandey (pandey@mtu.edu)
3. Interdisciplinary Program: Final approvals from the collaborating departments and colleges were obtained in the Deans’ Council meetings before forwarding to the Provost’s office and the senate. Advising and administrative duties will be housed entirely in the Physics department.
4. General Description and Characteristics
These 9-credit Graduate Certificate in “Frontiers in Optics and Photonics” are:
a) Prepare graduate students with a strong foundation in optics and photonics that
allows them to explore new frontiers in non-linear optics, and emerging new phenomena
in optics, photonics, and plasmonics in the future.
b) Prepare graduate students on the basics of characterizing frontier optical and
photonic phenomena.
c) Enhance the credibility of graduate students with skills needed for their career
in optics, photonics and plasmonics.
Catalog Description: The graduate certificate in “Frontiers in Optics and Photonics” aims at developing the foundation of: 1) Integrated photonics, 2) Nano optics, 3) Computational electromagnetics, 4) Quantum optics, 5) Optical wave propagation in complex media. Based on these skills, students can explore applications in telecommunications, biophotonics, quantum computing, sensing and imaging.
Graduate Student Learning (GLO) Assessment
GLO 1: Students earning this certificate will be able to solve open-ended problems
in one or more of the following topics: integrated photonics, plasmonics, electromagnetism,
Fourier optics, microwave engineering, antenna engineering.
GLO 2: Students earning this certificate will be able to analyze wave-materials interaction
phenomena such as acousto-optic effects, electro-optic effects, and wave gain/loss
effects.
GLO 3: Students earning this certificate will be able to design some of the basic
elements of integrated optical devices such as waveguides, resonators, modulators,
and beam splitters.
5. Title of Program: “Graduate Certificate in Frontiers in Optics and Photonics”
6. Rationale
Optical, and photonic physics are emerging fields for telecommunication, optical computing,
biophotonics, quantum sensing/communication and computing. This growing area is expected
to meet many academic and industrial needs.
7. Discussion of Related Programs
Our proposed certificate is unique for its interdisciplinary nature and diverse topics
in optics and photonics. Several other universities are offering related certificate
programs with different course requirements, for examples,
Duke University – http://fitzpatrick.duke.edu/education/certificate
The University of Arizona – https://grad.arizona.edu/catalog/programinfo/PCECRTG
University of Pittsburgh – https://catalog.upp.pitt.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=5&poid=261&returnto=137
From the information in these links, there is no evidence that these external programs are being offered online. The program in Arizona is offering some courses online but not all courses.
8. Projected Enrollments
Table 1 shows estimated minimum targets assuming a more aggressive marketing approach
is deployed. The enrollment cap depends on the number of sections that can be allocated
to each course. The certificate can be offered online in the future when online versions
of the required and elective courses become available.
Table 1. Estimated minimum enrollment by year.
Academic Year | On Campus |
2021-2022 | 2 |
2022-2023 | 2 |
2023-2024 | 3 |
2024-2025 | 3 |
2025-2026 | 4 |
9. Curriculum Design
This 9-credit certificate consists of one 3-credit required course and 6-credits of
electives. Only three credits may be at the 4000 levels. The required and elective
course list with the course descriptions are given below. It is expected that students
will work with the program advisor to select courses that fit their interests and
prerequisite skills.
Required Courses - 3 credits
PH4292 / MSE 4292– Photonic Materials (3 credits)
Elective Courses - at least 6 credits
PH 5210 - Electrodynamics I (3 credits)
PH 5151 / MSE 5151- Quantum Field Theory for Photonics and Materials (3 credits)
PH 5410 - Quantum Mechanics I (3 credits)
EE 5520 - Fourier Optics (3 credits)
EE 5410 - Engineering Electromagnetics (3 credits)
EE 5526 - Microwave Engineering (3 credits)
EE 5528 - Antenna Engineering (3credits)
Course Descriptions
PH 4292 / MSE 4292- Material properties controlling lightwave propagation in optical
crystals and optical waveguides. Photonic devices are based on electrical, magnetic,
and strain effects. Topics include electro-optics, magneto-optics, optoelectronic
and magneto-optic materials.
PH 5210 - Electrodynamics I: Electrostatics and magnetostatics, boundary value problems, multipoles, Maxwell's equations, time-dependent fields, propagating wave solutions, radiation.
PH 5151 / MSE 5151- Quantum Field Theory for Photonics and Materials: This course will review the basics of quantum mechanics and second quantization, and cover quantum field theoretical methods, including Wick's theorem and Feynman diagram techniques, for absolute zero and non-zero temperatures (Matsubara frequencies) and their application in photonics, properties of materials and condensed matter physics.
PH 5410 - Quantum Mechanics I: Study of the postulates of quantum mechanics framed in Dirac notation, the Heisenberg uncertainty relations, simple problems in one dimension, the harmonic oscillator, the principles of quantum dynamics, rotational invariance and angular momentum, spherically symmetric potentials including the hydrogen atom, and spin.
EE 5520– Fourier Optics: Analysis and modeling of diffraction effects on optical systems, emphasizing frequency-domain analytic and computational approaches. Presents wave propagation, imaging, and optical information processing applications.
EE 5410 - Engineering Electromagnetics: A mathematically rigorous study of dynamic electromagnetic fields, beginning with Maxwell's equations. Topics include scalar and vector potentials, waves, and radiation.
EE 5526 - Microwave Engineering: Basics of microwave engineering. Topics include microwave sources; wave equations and their solutions; wave propagation; reflection, and guiding; transmission line theory and practice; microwave network analysis and impedance matching; microwave resonators, filters, and dividers; left-handed materials and devices.
EE 5528 - Antenna Engineering: Topics include: basics of radiation theory, Hertzian dipole and loop antennas, near and far fields, bandwidth, gain and other antenna parameters, Yagi-Uda, bow-tie, cavity-backed and traveling-wave antennas, microstrip solutions, miniaturization, substrates, and superstrates.
10. New Course Descriptions
None
11. Model Schedule Demonstrating Completion Time
The minimum completion time is two semesters. A typical schedule is shown below.
Fall Semester | Spring Semester |
PH5210 and PH4292 | PH5151 |
Elective (if not in fall, then in spring) | Elective (if not in fall, then in spring) |
12. Library and Other Learning Resources
No additional library or other learning resources are required.
13. Description of available/needed equipment
No additional equipment is needed.
14. Program Costs
No additional program costs are anticipated.
15. Accreditation Requirements
None
16. Planned Implementation Date
This program has an anticipated start in Fall 2021. The certificate program will be
extended into an online program as soon as it is established and practical to do so.
Additional Information for New Programs:
1. Program-Specific Policies, Regulations and Rules.
This program will follow Senate Policy 411.1 for Graduate Certificates. No additional
program-specific policies apply besides the curricular requirements described above.
2. Scheduling Plans
On-campus sections will not require changes in class schedule, while online sections
can be implemented asynchronously.
3. Space
No additional space requirements are necessary for this certificate.
4. Faculty Resumes
The associated faculty who taught or can teach related courses are listed on the websites
of the Department of Physics, and the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.
Examples of webpages are embedded with the faculty names.
PH4292 / MSE 4292, PH 5151 / MSE 5151: Miguel Levy (Physics and MSE)
PH 5410: Ranjit Pati (Physics)
PH 5210: Jae Yong Suh (Physics)
Approval Process
Department approval: January 22, 2021
College of Sciences and Arts: February 15, 2021
Graduate Faculty Council: March 2, 2021
Provost’s Office and Deans’ Council: March 15, 2021
Approval by the Senate: 4/21/21
Approval by the President: 4/26/21
April 7, 2021