Photonics : Introduction
What all can light particles- photons, do in our daily lives? Can you
imagine about such light that can store information and help to transfer
these information through very thin glass fibers that can carry the equal
of 300,000,000 simultaneous telephone calls? All these come under Photonics,
the technology of light energy. Photonics is considered to be the next
generation technology. Just as electronics is the technology of the 20th
century, Photonics could be the technology of the 21st century. Even though
the Photonic era began in the 1960's with the invention of laser, it made
an impact on telecommunication only in the late 70's.
Photonics is a hi-tech subject that evolved as a result of the fusion
of optical technology with electronics. It is the use of light to obtain,
convey or process information. It is the science of mastering the techniques
involved in the emission, detection, transmission and modulation of light.
This sub-discipline of physics deals with the study of photons, the elementary
particle of light. It also deals with the instruments required such as
laser guns, optical fibers, optometric instruments etc.
In Photonic system, information signals are conveyed as pulses of light
and these optical signals are transmitted through optical fibres. Optical
fibres are strands of special glass around 10 micron (100µm) in
diameter (i.e about the thickness of a human hair) which can carry thousands
of times more information than electrical wires. Photonic devices that
are used to convert electrical signals into optical signal and back again
where necessary, can be made up from a variety of materials including
semi conductors and even optical fibres. These devices are also used to
manipulate and process optical signals directly, without the need for
conversion.
In recent years, Photonics has become a fundamental technology in worldwide
telecommunication, computing, security and many other applications because
of its advantage to work more effectively and with much greater speed.
The growing numbers of practical applications of Photonics make it an
important field both for research and commercial development. The technology
of Photonics is used for imaging, health care and medicine, defense, optics
and electronics. It has a strong reputation of solving research problems
through advanced spectroscopy, lasers, microscopy, and fiber optic imaging.
Photonics is also put to use in biotechnology, microbiology, medicinal
sciences, surgery and life sciences. It is even applicable for industrial
manufacturing, entertainment, metrology which is the science of measurement
that deals with weights and measures; and Photonic computing. Photonic
computing uses photons of laser light to perform the logic that makes
computing work. Apart from these industries, the technology has steadily
penetrated into military applications.
Those who have a keen interest in science and its intricacies and are
curious to solve questions related to science can pursue Photonics as
a career. There is a global demand for skilled people with Photonics training.
A Photonics specialist can work as Engineers, technicians, scientists
in Photonic companies and as professional officers in universities and
Government offices. The nature of work differs with the post held. The
scientist has to do more research work on Photonics, while the engineers
design Photonic equipments. The Photonics technician helps the engineers
in designing and manufacturing.
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