Prerequisites: Minimum grade of C- in ENEE324, and a minimum grade of C- in one of the following: ENEE290, ENEE461, or MATH240.

We will explore the fundamental limits of the efficiency with which one can encode information in light in the contexts of communications and sensing. Students will learn essential concepts from information theory, estimation theory, detection theory, the mathematical description of orthogonal optical modes, optical interference and noise in photodetection. We will not assume any background in optics, stochastic processes, quantum mechanics, or information theory. However,a strong mathematical background and proficiency in complex numbers, calculus, probability theory, and linear algebra (vectors and matrices) will be required.