Photonics Engineering

Overview

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The field of photonics covers all technical applications of light over the entire spectrum from ultraviolet through visible to near, mid, and far infrared light—and from lasers in CD players through the development of new, energy-saving light sources to integrated lightwave circuits and optical fibres. 

Moreover, photonics plays an increasing role in biology and medicine, for instance in connection with food control or medical therapy, measurement methods for efficiency improvement of wind farms, and technologies capable of measuring the efficiency of combustion processes or carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere.

Study programme focus

The MSc programme in Photonics Engineering comprises a wide range of courses in, for instance, basic physics, enabling you to understand and describe light and optical phenomena, and in optical materials and structures used for optical signal processing.

The study programme also places great emphasis on future applications of optics and photonics and is strongly related to the latest research in optical materials and structures, lasers and light sources, biophotonics and optical sensors, and components for optical communication. In addition, the Photonics Engineering programme contains a separate course element focused on innovation.

During the course of study, you will thus gain knowledge of the basic physical principles that are crucial to understanding light—and how the various properties and applications of light can be used for developing technological solutions to the challenges the world will be facing in future. This includes quantifying the consumption of carbon dioxide, improving the efficiency of combustion processes, securing future communication against acts of terrorism, measuring food quality, performing better medical procedures, and understanding and controlling diseases.

The teaching on the Photonics Engineering programme alternates between lectures, classes, and independent study. Furthermore, you will have ample opportunity to carry out theoretical and experimental projects, possibly in collaboration with an external industrial partner.

Specializations

The MSc programme in Photonics Engineering at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) allows you to specialize in one of the four study lines:

• Biophotonics and Sensors

• Lasers and Light Sources

• Optical Components for Optical Communication

• Photonic Materials and Structures

You should be aware, however, that the study lines are not mandatory, and that your choice of courses in your individual study plan is subject to a high degree of flexibility. Therefore, you have every opportunity to design your own study programme and career by choosing from the wide range of courses offered at DTU.

Career opportunities

Both current and future applications of photonics require interdisciplinary knowledge—for instance to predict the optical properties of synthesized materials using advanced mathematics and physics, to optimize optical measurements of biochemical tests, or to interpret the reflected optical signal from a contaminated atmosphere. The many applications of photonics offer a wide range of career opportunities.