Optical Science and Engineering (OSE)
What can I do with an Optical Science and Engineering (OSE) major?
Optical Science and Engineering plays a central role in nearly all aspects of modern life. As an optical engineer, you can…
- Make valuable contributions to health care and the life sciences
From developing and manufacturing microscopes to diagnostic imaging, the skills of optical engineers are increasingly essential. - Contribute to space-program and commercial camera optical applications
Interns and graduates of our program are building optical components and assemblies for the next generation space telescope known as the James Webb Space Telescope at L-3 Communications SSG-Tinsley. - Remote optical sensing for environmental and weather applications
Remote sensing applications enables scientists to monitor the effects of pollution in China on Northern California (Applied Science Researcher, Steve Cliff, comments on this), and observe global warming impact on glaciers around the world. - Work on National Defense Programs
Engineer IR sensors, command and control, navigation, search and rescue, mine laying and detection equipment.
Careers
As graduates of one of four Optical Science undergraduate programs in the US, our alumni have unique and highly specialized skills and are in high demand. Here's where they are now.
OSE Curriculum
The degree in Optical Science & Engineering (OSE) provides a basic education in the fundamental principles of optics combined with key courses in mathematics, physics, and the engineering applications of optics. (PDFs require the free Adobe Reader.)
List of required courses (PDF) .
Download a Sample Four Year Degree Plan (PDF)
Specializations
Students are offered the option to tailor their Optics and Technical Electives to your specific interest. The following are four suggested areas:
- Biophotonics
- Imaging
- Lasers & Spectroscopy
- Opto-Electronic and Opto-Communications
Optics Club
Web: http://opticsclub.engineering.ucdavis.edu/index.html
Members of the Optics Club have the opportunity to attend events and conferences, speak with students in local high schools and colleges about Optics, network with engineers in optics-related fields, and work on various optics-related projects. One of their signature events is their Laser Maze – a “James Bond Style” maze, which they host annually during UC Davis’ Picnic Day.
OSE Laboratory Facilities
Students will have many opportunities to learn to use of modern Optical Science and Engineering instrumentation, equipment, and design tools in the courses that are supported by these laboratory facilities.
General equipment and instrumentation:
Dedicated PCs, oscilloscopes, optical tables, optical benches, mounts, holders, lenses, mirrors, filters (ND, interference and dichroic), polarizers (sheet, Glan type and Wollaston type), calibrated light sources, power meters, photodiodes, photomultiplier, digital and analog circuit amplifiers, power supplies, high voltage power supplies, and autocollimator
In addition the following equipment will be available for the following experiments :
- Measurement of linewidths from chaotic light emission
Continuous wave (cw) lamp sources: Hg, Na, Xe; high - resolution spectrometers: grating: Michelson, Fabry-Perot; computer-controlled spectrometer scanning; and computer – based data analysis. - Photon correlation spectroscopy
Digital photon correlation spectrometer, benchtop correlation optics, and goniometer. - Hanbury-Brown-Twiss intensity fluctuations
Computer-driven digital correlation analyzer, and auto- and cross-correlation analysis packages. - Photoelectron counting statistics using photomultipliers and solid-state detectors
Photodetectors for single-photon detection, photomultipliers, photodiodes, avalanche photodiodes, computer-based photon statistics analysis. - Laser cavity resonator manipulations; mode controls
He-Ne laser with open cavity, external mirrors, and Nd:YAG solid state laser in open cavity. - Pulsed lasers: Electro-optic and acousto-optic modulation; Q-switching, mode-locking schemes
High E-field, modulated power amplifier, Pockel cell EO modulators, Kerr cell EO modulator, acousto-optical modulators, and saturable dye absorber Q-switch. - Semiconductor lasers and coupling to optical fibers
LED, GaAs semiconductor laser, fiber-optical couplers, optical switches. - Harmonic generation of light using internal and external cavity configurations
Harmonic generation crystals: KDP, ADP, LiNbO3, LiIO3; polarizers; angle-tuning for phase matching,; and thermal tuning chamber
This undergraduate program is accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of ABET. Please read about why you should choose an accredited program on ABET's website.