Sensing and Signal Analysis

Code:

FIS4051

Acronym:

FIS4051

Level:

400

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Physics

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Physics and Astronomy
Course/CS Responsible:	Master in Physics

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
M:EF	3	Official Study Plan since 2021_M:EF	1	-	6	42	162
M:F	2	Official Study Plan	1	-	6	42	162

Teaching language

English
Obs.: Inglês

Objectives

To give the students an insight into optical sensing, mainly interferometric based, supported by classical, semi-classical and quantum principles, addressing in each of the cases the relevant characteristics, applications, noise sources and signal analysis techniques.

Learning outcomes and competences

The students will be able to understand the basic principles of interferometric optical sensing, including the effect of the source coherence in the sensing device.

They are expected to understand homodyne and heterodyne techniques for signal recovery.

The students should understand the evolution from classical to semi-classic optical sensors, as well as the importance of quantum sensing for ultra-precise measurements.

Working method

Presencial

Program

A. Sensing and data analysis techniques and methods

• What is a sensor and how to characterize one: limit, ranges, sensitivity, saturation, and noise;
• Handling experimental data: measurement, errors, and conveying the message with informative graphs;
• Brief introduction to machine learning techniques and best practices for science: regression and classification.

B. Classical Optical Interferometers for Measurement/Sensing

• Why Light Excels in sensing and what is an interferometer;
• The building-blocks of interferometers: optical sources; splitters; polarization control; photodetectors (multiple and single photon detection, and sources of noise);
• Signal-to-noise ratio and merit factor of an interferometer.

C. Semi-Classical Optical Interferometers for Measurement/Sensing

• The Heisenberg phase resolution limit in an optical interferometer
• What is squeezed light and how to generate it using optical non-linear interactions (optical parametric amplification and frequency doubling)

D. Optical Interferometers for Quantum Measurement/Sensing

• Entangled photons and interferometers.
• Optical sources for emission of entangled photons and optical detectors with the ability to distinguish photon numbers at the level of single photons.
• Optical sources for detection of photons, and signal-to-noise ratio.
• The entangled N00N quantum state in a Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
• The environment problem.
• Evolution of the signal processing techniques mastered in classical optical interferometry to address the phase recovery in quantum interferometers.
• Quantum sensor and the sensing protocol.

E. Additional survey of optical sensors

Mandatory literature

Robert D. Guenther; Modern optics. ISBN: 0-471-51288-5

Complementary Bibliography

Reitze, David; Saulson, Peter; Grote, Hartmut (Editors); Advanced Interferometric Gravitational-wave Detectors: Essentials of Gravitational Wave Detectors. ISBN: 978-9813146075
Bachor, Hans-A.; Ralph, Timothy C.; A Guide to Experiments in Quantum Optics. ISBN: 978-3-527-41193-1
Max Born; Principles of optics. ISBN: 0-08-018018-3

Teaching methods and learning activities

Classes based on interactive discussion of the theoretical concepts, with relevant examples and problem solving.

Hands-on activities and demonstrations (computational and experimental).

Visits to laboratories in order to understand relevant experiments ongoing on the research labs.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Exame	60,00
Trabalho escrito	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	120,00
Frequência das aulas	42,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

According to the FCUP regulations for the assessment of students

Calculation formula of final grade

All students must take the final exam.

Sudents can choose to be assessed only based on the final exam, in which case the exam grade is the final grade.

An optional written report can be considered for 40% of the grade. In this case, the final grade is computed as: