The Department of Physics and Computer Science at Wilfrid Laurier University has a long-standing and strong background in photonics and optics. Faculty members in the Department of Physics and Computer Science have backgrounds in physics, engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Although photonics could be taught from a purely physics perspective, the interdisciplinary nature of the department allows us to offer an integrated BSc in Photonics based on a core of courses in photonics with an emphasis on applications in communication and networks, physics, and mathematics. Courses in digital electronics, analog electronics and computing are included to provide an introduction to the electronics and software design required for the interfacing, design, and simulation of photonics systems.

Just as electronics was the dominant enabling technology in the last century, it is anticipated that photonics will be the dominant enabling technology of this century. University graduates with the necessary fundamental education in mathematics and physics, and courses in optics, lasers, and photonics are needed to develop and sustain the industry.

What is Photonics?

Photonics is a rapidly emerging discipline associated with the generation, manipulation, transmission and detection of light and energy. The word photonics is derived from “photon”, an individual particle of light or packet of electromagnetic energy. Consequently, photonics is the study of how photons behave and is commonly used to describe the technology associated with the manipulation, generation, flow and capture of photons.

Opto-electronics and electro-optics are terms used for devices that use electrical fields or currents to directly generate, manipulate or detect light. The development of opto-electronic technologies such as the semiconductor laser have opened up new photonics applications.

Light is fundamental physical phenomena. Combine light with electronics and algorithms and you have an amazing number and variety of applications for photonics. Accordingly, photonics is influencing many industry sectors, including: information technology and telecommunications, health care and life sciences, optical sensing, lighting and energy, manufacturing, defence, fabrication of optical components and systems, pure research and education, space exploration and environmental monitoring.

Co-op Experience

All full-time honours students in Photonics may apply for the co-op option. Admission to this limited-enrolment option is competitive and is based on academic record, recent work and volunteer experience, extracurricular activities and interview performance. Photonics students complete two work terms of at least 10 weeks each, usually in the summers following their second and third years.

Sample Schedule: Photonics with two co-op work terms.