Optical Technologies

Study Field Outline

Until just recently, the term “optics” was primarily associated with classical eve- ryday objects, like glasses, microscopes, binoculars or camera lenses. Since the development of lasers advances in manu- facturing techniques, semiconductor

technology and in storage and software engineering, the optical technologies and their applications have developed at great pace and are seen as a key technology and driving force for innovation in the 21st century. They have long matured and have left their research labs to embark on a triumphant journey into our everyday

life, in hospitals, in vehicles of all kinds, in machines and factory buildings.

So what exactly does the term “optical technologies”, also known as photonics, really mean? The term actually covers the entirety of the physical and biological laws of nature and technologies for generat- ing, intensifying, shaping, transmitting, measuring and utilising, exploiting and applying light in all wave ranges. This in itself already suggests that the fields of application and products are very diverse and wide-ranging. We encounter high- quality optical devices, complex optical components as well as optics-based manu- facturing methods everywhere. Together with the worldwide fibreglass cables, light has become the preferred means of trans- port for speech and data transmissions. Optical fibres make it possible to achieve the highest information densities and so, for example, facilitate the simultaneous transmission of audio and video signals. CDs and DVDs have replaced magnetic recording methods for large volumes of data. Lasers are being used as welding and cutting tools in areas like the automotive and shipbuilding industries and are able to process the widest range of materials like glass, stainless steel, and plastics with the highest precision.

Modern medical engineering and technol- ogy is no longer conceivable without opti- cal technologies – just think of the use of lasers in ophthalmology. The whole field of keyhole surgery is equally inconceiv- able without fibre optic cables that give the surgeons an insight into a patient‘s body. And soon, ultrathin, flexible displays made of luminescent synthetic materials,

so-called OLEDs, will conjure up images of brilliant quality on laptops and mobiles. The applications are practically endless and extend from optoelectronics, infor- mation and communications technology, manufacturing engineering, the semicon- ductor industry via environmental, micro and sensor systems engineering, meas- urement engineering/metrology, print- ing and exposure techniques, traffic and lighting technology all the way through to medicine and the biosciences, to name but a few.

Often, it is not immediately apparent where optical technology-related subjects can be studied, because teaching is gen- erally offered in the form of core study areas or consolidation courses or in indi- vidual modules under the programmes in mechanical engineering, mechatronics, physics and physical engineering, preci- sion and microengineering, electrical engineering and information technology or in materials sciences. Each institution has its own specific focus. This results in a correspondingly wide spread of research and application, thus making it necessary to gain as much information as possible about the respective profile of the degree programmes in question.

Meanwhile, independent degree pro- grammes have, mainly at universities of applied sciences, established themselves in the field of optical technologies, such as optoelectronics, optometry and vision sci- ence, laser and optical technologies, phot- onics. Degree programmes in ophthalmic optics/optometry also deliver medical and optical knowledge and techniques for identifying the causes of sight problems

and for achieving the greatest possible sight with physical-optical resources. All these programmes share an essential, well-founded knowledge of the scientific and technical principles of physics and

mathematics as well as of the classical field of technical optics, especially for graduates wishing to work in fields like optical engineering or applied fields in medical engineering and technology.

Studies at Universities and Universities of Applied Sciences

Practical experience/internships:

Depending on the school/vocational qualifications, a pre-study internship of several weeks. During the studies, most programmes will include several practi- cal phases or work experience study semesters, laboratory exercises and project assignments. Applicants for the ophthal- mic optics programme are expected or recommended to have a vocational qualifi- cation as an optician.

Studies: Initial modules focus on acquir- ing the mathematical, scientific and engi- neering principles, including areas like analysis, vector calculus, mechanics and electrics (science of electricity), electronics, nuclear and molecular physics, chemistry, computer science/information systems, programming, optometry, instrument and control engineering, biomedicine, and physiological optics.

Depending on the chosen programme, students extend and consolidate their knowledge in areas like laser engineering and special fields of application, materials technology, materials processing, informa- tion and communication technologies, optometry, microsystems engineering,

micro systems technology, microelec- tromechanical systems (MEMS), image processing and other fields of relevance to application and research. In addition, non-technical subjects like project man- agement, technical English, business administration. Students of ophthalmic optics can extend and consolidate their knowledge with studies in optometry and ophthalmic technology.

Programmes in this field

Aalen HS • Berlin TFH • Braunschweig / Wolfenbüttel FH (Wolfsburg) • Bremen HS • Clausthal TU • Darmstadt HS •

Deggendorf FH • Erlangen-Nürnberg U (Erlangen) • Gießen-Friedberg FH (Friedberg, Gießen, Wetzlar) • Hamburg-Harburg TU • Hannover U • Hildesheim/Holzminden/ Göttingen HAWK (Göttingen) • Ilmenau TU • Jena FH • Karlsruhe U • Koblenz FH (Remagen) • Köln FH • Lübeck FH • München HS • Münster FH (Steinfurt) • Oldenburg / Ostfriesland / Wilhelmshaven FH (Emden) • Oldenburg U • Ravensburg- Weingarten HS (Weingarten) • Wildau TFH

Study Field Outline

Precision engineering involves the study of mechanics, optics and, above all, elec- tronics, including precision engineered devices and instruments (e.g. watches), optics, including optometry, optoelec- tronics, communications technology, microsystems engineering, micro systems technology, microelectromechanical sys- tems (MEMS), medical engineering and technology, measurement, control and data engineering, mechatronics. These fields are mainly used to produce, trans- mit, store, convert, monitor and process optical and acoustic, electrical, hydraulic and pneumatic signals to operate devices, such as CD and hard disk drives, cameras, microscopes, laser systems, plane tables, computer components or domestic appli- ances. Importance attaches here to secure and precise transmission.

Microengineering/microsystems engineer- ing (micro systems technology, microelec-

tromechanical systems (MEMS)) combines microelectronic, micromechanical and optoelectronic components like intelligent microprocessors, sensors and actuators to form extremely miniaturised technical systems. Applications range from sat nav systems in vehicles via tiny valves and pumps for drug dosage delivery in the body through to complex chemical analy- sis systems of the very smallest dimen- sions, e.g. astronautics. Studies combine subject areas from the fields of computer science/information systems, microoptics and microelectronics, as well as microme- chanics, which is why they have a highly multidisciplinary structure.

Precision engineers often collaborate with physicists, chemical scientists, computer scientists and engineers from other fields, The study of precision engineering is relat- ed to electronic engineering, mechanical engineering, mechatronics, and computer science.