Avoiding electronics as a photonical engineer

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers around concerns about the necessity of electronics knowledge for studying photonics at Ghent University. A participant expresses a strong dislike for electronics but a passion for photonics, seeking advice on whether it's possible to focus on photonics without extensive electronics training. Responses emphasize the importance of a solid foundation in electronics for future careers in experimental physics, noting that practical skills in electronics are often essential for tasks like designing and fixing instrumentation. Suggestions include exploring specific areas within photonics, such as solid-state physics or computational physics, which may require less direct engagement with electronics. Additionally, a recommendation is made to consider conducting a master's thesis at imec, a research hub relevant to the field. The conversation also includes informal exchanges about mutual acquaintances at the university.
Tsunami
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I've just been browsing the courses I'm going to get here in Ghent if I apply for photonics next year. There's one major subject at least that revolves around electronics, sensors, actuators etc.

Now: I really really hate electronics. Really. I'm not really practical with them, probably because my spatial memory is awful. But I love love love photonics... so I was wondering, is there any way I can continue studying photonics, without having to learn too much of that electronic stuff... I'm willing to struggle myself through it all, but will I need it a lot in my future career, or are there ways to avoid such a thing?
 
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Do you study at the university of Ghent ?

i went there also. I suppose you study burgerlijk ingenieur natuurkunde : optie photonica...

ps : if you are not really into electronics, i suggest you go for the solid state part or the computational physics part (like QM ab initio calculations or visualization technology)

marlon
 
Tsunami,

how about doing your master thesis here : http://www.imec.be/

this is where i do my phd...you can check out several options in the field on this site

marlon
 
As general advise, it is usually very important to have strong basics in electronics - especially if you want to work in experimental condensed matter physics. Inevitably, you will find that you may need to build, fix, design or even simply buy the right electronic components for a piece of instrumentation.
 
Besides, what an engineer calls electronics is what a physicist calls solid state physics combined with Electrodynamics

marlon
 
I don't know, photonics seems to be my kind of thing... maybe I should just get past my laziness... and the terrible teaching of Van Calster (if you studied at Ghent that might ring a bell marlon?).
 
Tsunami, are you Tijl or Jens ?

marlon
 
Tijl Schmelzer? Ken ik wel... en Jens kan ik ook wel apprecieren...
 
Tsunami said:
Tijl Schmelzer? Ken ik wel... en Jens kan ik ook wel apprecieren...


euuh, wat is uw naam. Ik denk niet dat ik U ken...

Nikolaas
 

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