Education, Careers & Professional News
UGC gives nod for M.Sc. photonics
Source
The Hindu
Date
2006-07-31
Information
By sanctioning M.Sc. photonics, a two-year programme, to the Postgraduate and Research Department of Physics, Periyar E.V.R. Government College, the University Grants Commission (UGC) has helped eligible candidates - undergraduates of Physics, Applied Physics and Electronics - to set their eyes on careers in Remote Sensing, Digital Image Processing, Digital Signal Processing, Biomedical Instrumentation, Telecommunication Engineering, Fibre Optic Communication, Astrophysics, Nuclear Imaging, and Laser Applications.
The range of application of photonics, the technology of harnessing light and other forms of energy, extends from energy generation and detection to communication and information processing, said P.S. Joseph, Head, Department of Physics and Coordinator, M.Sc. photonics.
Through photonics instrumentation, objective data can be added to subjective descriptions of cosmetic products thereby improving brand loyalty. Likewise, adaptive optics, a part of photonics, leverages off technological advances in Micro Electromechanical Systems technology to produce components such as electrostatic deformable membrane mirror.
In the manufacture of semi-conductors too, photonics is used not only for imaging circuit layers but also for measuring the size and location of patterned features. In automobile manufacture, photonics testing offers advantages over mechanical methods of testing interior and brake noise. At present, only the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) and Indian Institute of Technology, New Delhi, offer M.Tech. and Ph.D. courses in photonics.
Dr. Joseph said the Physics Department would have collaboration with the International School of Photonics at CUSAT, Madurai Kamaraj University, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, Indian Space Research Organisation and the Indian Institute of Astro Physics, Bangalore.