ENEE484: Optoelectronic Devices

Credits: 3

Description

Recommended: A background in semiconductors and P-N junctions.
Restriction: Permission of the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department.
Credit only granted for: ENEE484 or ENEE489I.
Formerly: ENEE489I.
Explores the fundamental physics of optoelectronic devices including lasers, solar cells, LEDs, and photodetectors. We aim at an understanding of the fundamental principles on device physics, material considerations, and significant components of optoelectronic devices. State-of-the-art device configurations and material choices in industry and academia will be discussed.

Semesters Offered

Fall 2025
Testudo

Topics Covered

 

  • Lasers:
    • Laser fundamentals
    • Gas lasers, semiconductor lasers, and solid-state lasers
    • Laser modes, tunable lasers, high power lasers 
    • Spectrometer
    • Laser devices and materials 
  • Solar cells:
    • Three generations of lasers
    • Organic solar cell, perovskite solar cell 
    • Upconversion and downconversion 
    • Dye-sensitized solar cell, quantum dot solar cell  
  • Light emission diodes (LEDs):
    • LED fundamentals
    • LED materials, white LEDs  
    • Phosphor, LED packaging 
    • Organic LEDs 
  • Photodetectors 
    • Photodetector fundamentals
    • CCD  
    • APD, PMT 
    • Fast photodetectors

Learning Outcomes

  • Understand the working principles of each type of optoelectronic device, including the physics of the device as a whole and the physics of each device component.
  • Understand the differences and similarities between different types of optoelectronic devices.
  • Understand the material design for the device function and know the possible approaches of further optimization of device performance.