Photonics Research Stream

Photonics is the study of how to generate, detect, and manipulate light. One of the most important applications of photonics today is fiber optic communications. The incredibly large data capacity of optical fibers and the very high-speed optoelectronic components form the backbone to our long distance telecommunications networks. Without optical fiber networks, we would not have the internet or emails, and long distance phone calls would be slow and expensive. Engineers with a photonics background can find careers in optical communications and other emerging technologies.

The photonics research stream prepares students for graduate work in photonics. In advanced studies, graduate students can invent new devices (e.g. optical switches, lasers, photon sources), communication protocols (e.g. quantum cryptography), and information processing techniques (e.g. quantum information processing).

Student working on research project in Photonics lab