Electrical & Computer Engineering

• ENG EC 765: Biomedical Optics and Biophotonics
  This course surveys the applications of optical science and engineering to a variety of biomedical problems, with emphasis on optical and photonics technologies that enable real, minimally-invasive clinical applications. The course teaches only those aspects of biology itself that are necessary to understand the purpose of the application. The first weeks introduce the optical properties of tissue, and following lectures cover a range of topics in three general areas: 1) Optical spectroscopy applied to diagnosis of cancer and other tissue diseases; 2) Photon migration and optical imaging of subsurface structures in tissue; and 3) Laser-tissue interactions and other applications of light for therapeutic purposes. In addition to formal lectures, recent publications from the literature will be selected as illustrative of various topical areas, and for each publication one student will be assigned to prepare an informal presentation (with overhead slides or PowerPoint) reviewing for the class the underlying principles of that paper and outlining the research results. Same as ENGBE765; students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG EC 770: Guided-wave Optoelectronics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 560 or ENG EC 568.
  Discussion of physics and engineering aspects of integrated optics and optoelectronic devices. Semiconductor waveguides, lasers, and photodetectors. Layered semiconductor structures, quantum wells, and superlattices. QW detectors, emitters, and modulators. OEICs. Photonic switching.
• ENG EC 771: Physics of Compound Semiconductor Devices
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 574 or ENG EC 575 or CAS PY 543.
  Physics of present-day compound devices, and emerging devices based on quantum mechanical phenomena. MESFETs, Transferred Electron Devices, avalanche diodes, photodetectors, and light emitters. Quantum mechanical devices based on low dimensionality confinement through the formation of heterojunctions, quantum wells, and superlattices. High electron mobility transistors, resonant tunneling diodes, quantum detectors, and lasers. Materials growth and characterization are integral to the course.
• ENG EC 772: VLSI Graduate Design Project
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 571; consent of instructor
  Students working in a group of one to four people design and simulate a microchip, and create a fabrication file. Students submit the design for fabrication. When the chip is returned, students test and if necessary redesign the circuitry. A project write-up is required. Students must take an I-grade until testing of the chip is completed.
• ENG EC 773: Advanced Optical Microscopy and Biological Imaging
  Graduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 401 or ENG BE 401; Preferably a background in optics of photonics (ENG EC560 or equivalent or permission by instructor.
  This course will present a rigorous and detailed overview of the theory of optical microscopy starting from basic notions in light propagation and covering advanced concepts in imaging theory such as Fourier optics and partial coherence. Topics will include basic geometric optics, photometry, diffraction, optical transfer functions, phase contrast microscopy, 3D imaging theory, basic scattering and fluorescence theory, imaging in turbid media, confocal microscopy, optical coherence tomography (OCT), holographic microscopy, fluorescence correlation spectroscopy (FCS), fluorescence resonant energy transfer (FRET), and nonlinear-optics based techniques such as two-photon excited fluorescence (TPEF) and second-harmonic generation (SHG) microscopy. Biological applications such as calcium and membrane-potential imaging will be discussed. A background in optics is preferable. A background in signals and analysis is indispensable. In particular, the student should be comfortable with Fourier transforms, complex analysis, and transfer functions. Meets with ENGBE773. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG EC 774: Semiconductor Quantum Structures and Photonic Devices
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 574; or equivalent
  Optical properties of semiconductors: interband optical transitions; excitons. Low-dimensional structures: quantum wells, superlattices, quantum wires, quantum dots, and their optical properties; intersubband transitions. Lasers: double-heterojunction, quantum-well, quantum-dot, and quantum-cascade lasers; high-speed laser dynamics. Electro-optical properties of bulk and low-dimensional semiconductors; electroabsorption modulators. Detectors: photoconductors and photodiodes; quantum-well infrared photodetectors. Same as ENG MS 774. Students may not receive credit for both.
• ENG EC 777: Nanostructure Optics
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 560 or ENG EC 568.
  Discussion of the fundamental physical aspects and device applications of optical fields confined and generated in nanoscale environments. Review of classical electrodynamics and angular spectrum representation of optical fields, classical and quantum models for light-matter interaction, light emission from semiconductor quantum dots and wires, surface-plasmon polaritons and sub-wavelength light transport/localization in metal nanostructures, slot waveguide structures, surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) and SERS-based sensors, light scattering in complex photonic structures such as: metal-dielectric photonic crystals, fractal structrures, random lasers.
• ENG EC 782: RF/Analog IC Design - Advanced Applications
  Undergraduate Prerequisites: ENG EC 580 and ENG EC 582; or permission of the instructor.
  Selected topics in advanced RF/Analog integrated circuit design based on high frequency BiCMOS technology. Topics to be covered include oversampling (Sigma Delta) A/D converters, RF phase-locked loops, low voltage RF frequency synthesizers, printed circuit board design for RF applications, antennas and signal propagation, PCB filters, and other mixed-signal topics. The course will utilize selected readings from the technical literature, as well as a number of RF measurement and RF design lab assignments.
• ENG EC 892: Seminar: Electro-Physics
  A weekly two-hour seminar on recent research topics in the area of electro-physics, including solid state materials and devices, photonics, electromagnetics, computers in physics, and other related areas. Speakers include faculty and graduate students in the area.
• ENG EC 900: Research
  By petition only. Research carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 901: Thesis
  By petition only. Preparation of an original MS thesis carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 910: Computer Engineering Design Project
  By petition only. Specification and solution of a computer engineering design problem carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. A final report is required. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 911: Systems Design Project
  By petition only. Specification and solution of a systems engineering design problem carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. A final report is required. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 913: Electrical Engineering Design Project
  By petition only. Specification and solution of an electrical engineering design problem carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. A final report is required. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 914: Photonics Design Project
  By petition only. Specification and solution of a Photonics problem carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. A final report is required. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 951: Independent Study
  By petition only. Under faculty supervision, graduate students may study subjects not covered in a regularly scheduled course. A final report and/or written examination is required. Variable cr.
• ENG EC 991: Dissertation
  By petition only. Preparation of an original PhD dissertation carried out under the guidance of a faculty member. Variable cr.