Areas of Specialization

Please click "Outline" for Technical Elective Information. Contact the department if anything is unclear.

Development of electromagnetic theory - fields, Gauss’ law, electric potential, Laplace equation, dielectrics, Ampere’s law, magnetism, Faraday’s law, inductance, development of Maxwell’s equations via vector calculus.
Three lectures, one tutorial, one lab (three hours each) every other week, first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in any Engineering Physics or Mechatronics Engineering Program; PHYSICS 1E03; and credit or registration in one of MATH 2M03, 2P04 or MATH 2Z03

Antirequisite(s): ENG PHYS 2A03, MEDPHYS 2B03

Algebraic solutions; Numerical integration and differentiation; Finite difference and finite element methods; Euler method; Runge-Kutta techniques; Partial differential equations; Monte Carlo simulation.
Three lectures, one tutorial (three hours each); second term

Prerequisite(s): PHYSICS 1E03; registration in an Engineering Physics Program; and credit or registration in one of MATH 2M03, 2P04 or MATH 2Z03.

Antirequisite(s): PHYSICS 2D03

Design and analysis of analog and digital electrical circuits - component analysis, circuit analysis and theorems, binary numbers, Boolean analysis and digital circuit design.
Three lectures, one lab (three hours each); second term

Prerequisite(s): PHYSICS 1E03, and registration in an Engineering Physics or Mechatronics Program

An introduction to thermodynamics and its statistical basis at the microscopic level, with applications to problems originating in a modern laboratory or engineering environment.
Three lectures, one tutorial, one lab (three hours each) every other week; second term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level II Engineering Physics

Antirequisite(s): ENGINEER 2H03, 2V04, MATLS 2B03
Cross-list(s): PHYSICS 2H04

Thermal Systems Design covers the physics and design of energy conversion systems utilized in many engineering systems. The course presents the underlying physics and thermodynamics of energy systems.
Three lectures, one tutorial; first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in an Engineering program

Classical mechanics topics relevant to Engineering Physics, including elasticity theory. Symbolic processors and PDE/visualization are applied in the solution of problems.
Three lectures, one tutorial (two hours each); first term

Prerequisite(s): PHYSICS 1E03; and credit or registration in one of MATH 2M03, 2P04 or 2Z03

Antirequisite(s): ENGINEER 2P04

Wave-particle duality, uncertainty principle, Hydrogen atom, Schrodinger Equation for ID systems, barriers and tunnelling, probability, properties of insulators, semiconductors and metals. Examples from experiments.
Three lectures, one tutorial; second term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in an Engineering Physics or Materials Engineering program

Antirequisite(s): PHYSICS 2C03

Estimation of true value; Probability density function, binomial, multinomial, Poisson, Student’s t, log-normal, Cauchy, Maxwell-Boltzmann, Bose-Einstein (geometric distribution), Fermi-Dirac; Bayes Theorem; Statistics – sample mean, sample variance; Central Limit Theorem; Confidence interval; Error propagation equation; Linear least squares fits to polynomials, Chi-squares; Non-linear least squares fit.

Three lectures, one tutorial (two hours each); first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in level II of the Engineering Physics program.
Antirequisite(s): COMMERCE 2QA3, IBEHS 4C03

P-N junctions, diodes, bipolar junction transistors, field effect transistors, DC and AC modeling, differential amplifiers and operational amplifiers, feedback and oscillators, digital circuits and multivibrators, signal processing.
Two lectures, one lab (three hours); first term

Prerequisite(s): One of ENG PHYS 2A03, 2A04, 2E04, MEDPHYS 2B03, PHYSICS 2B06, 2BB3

Antirequisite(s): PHYSICS 3B06, PHYSICS 3BA3

Design and synthesis project in electronics, based on the material presented in ENGPHYS or PHYSICS 3BA3.
One lecture, one lab (three hours each) every other week; second term

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3BA3 or PHYSICS 3BA3

Antirequisite(s): PHYSICS 3B06, 3BB3

Geometrical optics, electromagnetic waves, interference of light, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, polarized light, Fresnel equations, optical properties of materials, introduction to optical systems and precision optics experiments, selected topics in modern optics.
Three lectures; first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in any Engineering Physics Program; one of ISCI 2A18 A/B, MATH 2A03, 2Q04, 2XX3, 2ZZ3; and one of MATH 2C03, 2P04, 2Z03; and one of MEDPHYS 2B03, PHYSICS 2B06, 2BB3 or both ENGPHYS 2A04 (or 2A03) and 2E04.

Cross-list(s): PHYSICS 3N03

A survey course on energy systems with emphasis on the analytic tools needed to evaluate them in terms of performance, resources and environmental sustainability, costs, and other relevant factors over their life cycles.
Three lectures; first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in an Engineering Physics program, or level IV or V of a Civil Engineering Program or permission of the instructor.

Application of quantum mechanics to the electronic, optical and mechanical behaviour of materials.
Three lectures; first term

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 2QM3, PHYSICS 2C03 or 3M03 and registration in the Faculty of Engineering

Antirequisite(s): ENG PHYS 3F04

The course covers the design and operation of medical, life science, commercial, and consumer applications of photonics.
One lecture (one hour), one lab (two hours); two terms

Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level III or above in a Faculty of Engineering, or Science, or Health Science Program, or registration in the Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences (IBEHS) Program.

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3G03, ENGPHYS 4G03

A special program of studies to be arranged by mutual consent of a professor and the student, to carry out experiments and/or theoretical investigations. A written report and oral defence are required.
Both terms

Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level III of an Engineering Physics program, or Level IV of an Engineering Physics and Management or Engineering Physics and Society program, and a GPA of at least 8; permission from the department is also required

Industrial and process measurement systems, instrument response and uncertainty, modeling process systems. Fundamental physics of instrument measurement methods. Instrumentation reliability and safety system design.

Three lectures, one lab (three hours each) every other week, one tutorial; first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level III or above of any Engineering Physics program
Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3L03, 4L03, 4L04

Electronic properties of semiconductors: non-equilibrium carrier conditions; steady state and non-steady state; p-n junctions; Schottky diodes; bipolar junction transistors. Detailed coverage of a range of diodes including photodiodes, solar cells, light emitting diodes, zener diodes, and avalanche diodes.
Three lectures, one lab (three hours each); second term

Prerequisite(s): ENG PHYS 3F04 or MATLS 3Q03, or credit or registration in ENGPHYS 3F03

Antirequisite(s): ENG PHYS 3PN3, 4E03

A systems approach to measurement in which synthesis of topics such as Fourier transforms, signal processing and enhancement, data reduction, modelling and simulation is undertaken.

Two lectures, one lab (three hours each), one tutorial; second term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level III or above of any Engineering or Science program
Antirequisite(s): IBEHS 3A03

Design and synthesis projects supervised by a faculty member in the Department of Engineering Physics.
Lectures, tutorials, labs, one capstone project; both terms

Prerequisite(s): Registration in the final level of an Engineering Physics program

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 4A04

Various topics in Engineering Physics will be examined. This course is a self-study course.
Three lectures; first term

Prerequisite(s): Registration in Level IV or V of an Engineering Physics program

A special program of studies to be arranged by mutual consent of a professor and the student, to carry out experiments and/or theoretical investigations. A written report and oral defence are required.
Both terms

Prerequisite(s): Registration in final level of an Engineering Physics program and a GPA of at least 9.5; permission from the department is also required

Basic principles of light interaction with biological systems and specific biomedical applications of photonics such as optical light microscopy, endoscopic imaging, spectroscopy in clinical diagnosis, flow cytometry, micro-optical sensors, etc.
Three lectures; second term

Prerequisite(s): One of ENGPHYS 2A04, MEDPHYS 2B03, or PHYSICS 2B06; and registration in Level III or above in an Engineering Physics Program. Completion of either ENGPHYS 3E03, ENGPHYS 4G03, or PHYSICS 3N03 is recommended.

Cross-list(s): MEDPHYS 4I03

This course gives an in-depth investigation of advanced semiconductor devices, with a focus on novel materials. The course will cover aspects of fabrication, operation and design for modern semiconductor devices, highlighting traditional, nanoscale and excitonic/organic device physics.
Three lectures; second term

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3F03 or 3F04; and credit or registration in one of ENG PHYS 3PN3, 3PN4 or 4E03; or MATLS 3Q03, 4Q03

Basic properties of electromagnetic radiation. Optical modulation and detection. Nonlinear optics. Multiple-beam interference and coherence. Optical resonators. Laser systems.
Three lectures; first term

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3E03 or PHYSICS 3N03

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 4S04

Selected advanced experiments in two areas of applied physics, chosen from among these unique topics: Lasers & Optical Communication, Solar Cell Fabrication, Biomedical and Nuclear Labs. Students must take ENGPHYS 4U02 twice, in order to fulfil degree requirements (for a total of four units). Students must select two unique topics from the list above; the same topic cannot be repeated.
Two labs (three hours each); both terms

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3W04 A/B and PHYSICS 3B06, or both ENGPHYS 3BA3 and ENGPHYS 3BB3

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 4U04 A/B

Selected advanced experiments in two areas of applied physics, chosen from among these unique topics: Lasers & Optical Communication, Solar Cell Fabrication, Biomedical and Nuclear Labs. Students must take ENGPHYS 4U02 twice, in order to fulfil degree requirements (for a total of four units). Students must select two unique topics from the list above; the same topic cannot be repeated.
Two labs (three hours each); both terms

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3W04 A/B and PHYSICS 3B06, or both ENGPHYS 3BA3 and ENGPHYS 3BB3

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 4U04 A/B

Selected advanced experiments in two areas of applied physics, chosen from among these unique topics: Lasers & Optical Communication(Photonics), Solar Cell Fabrication, Biomedical and Nuclear Labs. Students must take ENGPHYS 4U02 twice, in order to fulfil degree requirements (for a total of four units). Students must select two unique topics from the list above; the same topic cannot be repeated.
Two labs (three hours each); both terms

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3W04 A/B and PHYSICS 3B06, or both ENGPHYS 3BA3 and ENGPHYS 3BB3

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 4U04 A/B

Selected advanced experiments in two areas of applied physics, chosen from among these unique topics: Lasers & Optical Communication, Solar Cell Fabrication, Biomedical and Nuclear Labs. Students must take ENGPHYS 4U02 twice, in order to fulfil degree requirements (for a total of four units). Students must select two unique topics from the list above; the same topic cannot be repeated.
Two labs (three hours each); both terms

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3W04 A/B and PHYSICS 3B06, or both ENGPHYS 3BA3 and ENGPHYS 3BB3

Antirequisite(s): ENGPHYS 4U04 A/B

A review of photovoltaic devices including solar cell operation, characterization, manufacturing, economics and current and next generation technologies.
Three lectures; first term

Prerequisite(s): One of ELECENG 2EI5, ENGPHYS 3PN4, MATLS 3Q03 or ENGPHYS 3BA3

Detailed description of fabrication technologies used in the semiconductor industry; computer modelling of device fabrication; analysis of device performance.
Two classroom-based lectures, one computer cluster-based lecture; second term

Prerequisite(s): ENGPHYS 3F03 or 3F04, or MATLS 3Q03; and registration in the Faculty of Engineering

Current developments and specialized aspects of engineering physics. This course may be taken for repetitive credit.

This course introduces group III-V semiconductor materials, heterostructures and devices including HBTs, HEMTs, laser diodes, photodiodes, and multi-junction solar cells.

This course will explore the physics and technology under-pinning the global semiconductor fabrication industry. The design of processes for nano-, micro- and opto-electronic devices will be covered with description of the fundamental models describing diffusion, ion implantation, polymer processing, thin film deposition and thin film growth. Students will be required to develop models from first principal, as well as design novel process strategies using the industrial compatible software ‘Athena.’ Emphasis on industrial practice will be made with description of six-sigma process development.

An introduction to steady-state theories of laser oscillators and amplifiers, spectroscopy of laser media, population inversion mechanism in gaseous and solid-state systems.Characterization of pulsing laser systems.

An examination of the theory of operation, manufacture, and application of semiconductor diode lasers. Emphasis will be on InGaAsP diode lasers and the application of these devices in optical communication systems.

Optoelectronic devices and the physics that governs their operation: the electro-optic, acoustooptic, and photoelastic effects; optics in semiconductors: free carrier effects, heterojunctions, quantum wells, electroabsorption; guided wave optics; optical modulators; photonic switching and optical interconnects; Fourier optics.

Fundamental theory of radiation will be introduced and described in quantum terms. The theory will be applied to practical Solid State emitters with emphasis on point defects and visible wavelength emission and the technologically important materials in light emitting diodes, powder phosphors and electroluminescent thin films will be discussed.

Thin film growth and deposition including thermal evaporation, e-beam evaporation, sputtering, chemical vapour deposition and molecular beam epitaxy; thermodynamics and kinetics of film growth.

Characterization techniques of organic and inorganic thin films, including x-ray and electron diffraction, electron microscopy, chemical analysis, ion beam analysis, and optical and electrical characterization methods.

The student is required to spend four months carrying out an approved project under the supervision of a member of the faculty of Engineering Physics. Assessment of the project is performed by the faculty member after preparation of a written report by the student. The student must attain a grade of B. The project requires full-time attention and as such the student is not expected to take any other courses during the project. It is expected that the project will take place during the summer term. This course is available only to students in the M.Eng. degree program in the department of Engineering Physics.

This course gives an introduction to the basic principles of nonlinear optics, which is useful in understanding the nonlinear optical effects involved in many modern photonic components and devices. It mainly includes a project and an oral examination.

Advanced Photovoltaics provides students with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental processes relevant to photovoltaic operation. Specific devices are studied by both numerical simulation and analytic calculation. A connection is made between the material parameters necessary for simulating a device and their independent measurement by a range of characterization techniques. Silicon, III-V, II-VI, organic and nano-based approaches to PV device design are all explored. Students are also introduced to the challenges of integrating different approaches into a solar based electrical generation system.

Crystallography: binding and structure; free and nearly free electrons, energy bands; electronic aspects of semi-conductors: doping, carrier statistics; point defects; energy levels, atomic configuration, thermodynamics; experimental aspects of defect spectroscopy.