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This course is divided into two parts, Communication Systems and Photonics.

Communication Systems offers engineering students a grounding in the principles of digital communications systems, covering both the theory and practice of communications systems and schemes. This element aims to provide an introduction to digital communications systems, including: Baseband digital transmission systems, baseband digital reception systems, passband digital transmission systems, passband digital reception systems, and examples of how these concepts can be applied to practical communication systems.

By the end of the module students should:
• Be familiar with the basic elements of a digital communications systems
• Be familiar with the basic mathematical tools in signals and systems analysis
• Consider different baseband and passband digital transmission schemes, their advantages and disadvantages
• Understand how to calculate the spectrum and bandwidth of different baseband and passband digital transmission schemes
• Consider different baseband and passband digital reception schemes, their advantages and disadvantages
• Understand how to calculate the error probability associated with different digital reception schemes
• Be able to carry out basic analysis by applying these principles to design real-world communication systems

The Photonics section of the course introduces engineering students to the interaction of optical signals with materials, and to the design of photonic devices and systems, including optical fibre communications systems. This includes the interaction of light / optical signals with materials, the generation and detection of light, the principles of the guiding of light, the design of photonic devices and systems, and optical communication systems.

By the end of the module students should:
• Be familiar with the range of applications of photonics and its role in industry and everyday life
• Understand different representations and models of light
• Develop a basic understanding of how light interacts with materials
• Understand how light can be generated in semiconductors, including an appreciation of the relevant properties of semiconductor materials
• Understand the principles and be able to perform basic analysis of lasers
• Understand the structure and characteristics of light-emitting diodes and semiconductor lasers
• Understand how p-n junction diodes can be used as photodetectors
• Carry out basic analysis of photodiodes
• Have an appreciation of optical waveguides and different kinds of optical fibres
• Understand the key elements of an optical communication system
• Understand the factors that limit the performance of optical communications systems
• Be able to calculate the performance of simple optical communications systems