ME5520 (Fundamentals and Applications of Optics and Photonics) course reviews and ratings at Northeastern (NEU). Compare professors with RateMyProfessor reviews.
Introduces the basic knowledge and recent development in the field of optics and photonics. Explains the property of light from four perspectives: geometric optics, wave optics, electromagnetic optics based on Maxwell’s equations, as well as quantum mechanics. Discusses the interactions between light and materials, ranging from bulk to nano and molecular level. Presents representative applications, particularly in the domain of mechanical engineering, which include imaging and microscopy, photolithography, 3D laser printing, solar desalination, radiative cooling, optical tweezers to manipulate micro/nano objects, and solar sails for spacecraft propulsion.
Data updated October 2026.