The Objective of this course is to show how semiconductors and their peculiarities such as excitons or intersubband transitions intervene in novel frontiers of photonics : nonlinear optical signal processing, and quantum structures such as quantum cascade lasers.

1) Wave coupling, semiconductor emblematic devices (H. Benisty):
We will start by a reminder of the description of wave coupling and of semi-conductors and quantum wells.(6h)
We will then study as a general basis the application of these concepts through a couple of emblematic devices (QW laser,DFB, VCSEL,QD laser)

2) Semiconductor linear properties of basic and advanced structures (A. Levenson, R. Kuszelewicz)
Electronic & optical properties of quantum well
Electronic & optical properties of wires and quantum dots
Fabrication and technologies
Periodical structures : optical properties

3) Nonlinear optics of semiconductors : phenomena & applications (A. Levenson, R. Kuszelewicz)
Intrinsic versus dynamical nonlinearities
Second order intrinsic nonlinearities
Nonlinear effects in vertical cavity systems
Nonlinear effects governed by the dynamics of material excitations
Spatio-temporal effects and NLO
Second Harmonic Generation, and other second order NL applications
Nonlinear Photonic Crystals
Spatial solitons and applications to all optical logic

4)Quantum semiconductor structures (G. Leo)
Based on low-dimensional physics of electrons and photons, we will underline the possibilities gained from band engineering to exploit intraband transitions from THz to mid infrared les transitions intrabandes entre les THz et l’infrarouge moyen ;
Two emblematic devices based on intersubband transitions will be outlined ; QWIP detectors and quantum cascade lasers, of high interest for molecule sensing, etc.
A more prospective course will be dedicated to integrated single photon sources or twin photons, for quantum optics and cryptography applications.

Bibliography :
« The principles of nonlinear optics », Y.R. Shen (Wiley-Interscience) ;
« Wave Mechanics applied to semiconductor heterostructures, » G.Bastard (Springer) -
Quantum semiconductor Structures : Fundamentals and applications, C. Weisbuch and B. Vinter (Academic Press);
« Optoélectronique » E. Rosencher and B. Vinter, Paris: Masson, 1997.

Requirements : basic laser diodes (Fabry Perot type), gain media and electro-optic media, basis of telecom optics (fibres, modes, data rates)

Evaluation mechanism : Oral exam as much as possible (if number not too high) Plus extra oral training session if possible ("controle continu"), with much weaker coefficient than exam. Typically, comments of scientific papers relevant in the area will be proposed. Evaluation will be directed toward those aspects of the course which are present in the paper in question.

Last Modification : Wednesday 23 November 2011