Optical Fibre & LASER Technology Edification: Diverse Career Prospects

Optical fiber refers to the medium or waveguide and the technology linked with the transmission of information as light pulses along a glass or plastic element or fiber. Today more than 90 percent of the world’s long-distance traffic is passed over optical fiber cables as it provides high-performance data networking. Fiber optics technology are also commonly used in telecommunication services, like internet, television and telephones. Verizon and Google have explored fiber optics in their Verizon FIOS and Google Fiber services which is providing gigabit internet speeds to users. Another relatively unexplored area is optical sensing with optical fiber, with myriad opportunities spanning many fields including environmental detection, biomedical sensing, and structural monitoring.

Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation or LASER invented as an extension of the maser, or “Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.” Name indicates, the maser is an amplifier that was originally used for amplifying weak radio signals from space. Laser devices or technology use light to store, transfer, or print images and text. Contemporary world is enriched with various application of LASER in wide range like surgery and weaponry etc. The coherent radiation of the laser gives it special strength. 

Photonics: A sub-discipline of Physics introduce the science of creating, sensing and monitoring photons or light particles 

Photonics includes light emission, transmission, deflection, amplification and detection by optical components and instruments. Most significantly, whenever career opportunity on Photonics is point of interest, the other sub-component such as lasers and other light sources, fiber optics, electro-optical instrumentation, related hardware and electronics and sophisticated systems is very important. In brief, optical fiber technology and LASER education is sort of diverging your job opportunity in India, Europe and USA. 

Institutions who offer knowledge!!

1. In India, the International School of Photonics (Cochin University of Science and Technology) offers M.Tech, MPhil and PhD programs in Photonics.
2. Many IITs, Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology offer MTech degree in applied optic or Optical engineering, candidates pursuing this degree always follow up with Laser and Fiber optics special/elective paper.
3. Apart from this many other universities like Calcutta University, Adamas University etc. and engineering colleges across the country offer optoelectronics and photonics or Applied optics as interdisciplinary subjects.
4. The course structure of B.Sc. Physics, Adamas University always cover paper like Electromagnetic wave theory, Laser and Fiber Optics. Thus, a candidate having Bachelor’s degree with Physics and Mathematics can pursue M.Sc in Photonics or optoelectronics.
5. With M.Sc in Physics or Photonics, one can pursue MTech/ MPhil/PhD in the field.
6. All major universities of the world offer courses in Photonics and optoelectronics. The University of New South Wales, Institute of Physics (London) and University of Leeds are few renowned institutes abroad offering courses in Photonics and related field. 

Interesting fact you wanted to know about photonics/Optical fiber technology and laser careers

1. Recently, the medical aesthetics industryhas prolonged by leaps and bounds as more people mandate aesthetic services to enhance their looks as well as youth. Medical aesthetics institutions across the country offer training programs for individuals looking to become a cosmetic laser technician.

2. Photonic or Laser job prospective industries include: Aerospace & Aviation division, Laboratory & University, Manufacturing equipment, Communications, Electronics/Semiconductor, Medical/Biotechnology, Military, Photonics, Chemical, Pharmaceuticals, Environment.

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