Program Overview

Electrical and Computer Engineering Program

The Electrical and Computer Engineering program at the University of Waterloo is a comprehensive and interdisciplinary program that covers a wide range of topics in electrical and computer engineering.

Program Overview

The program is designed to provide students with a strong foundation in the principles of electrical and computer engineering, as well as hands-on experience in the design, development, and testing of electrical and computer systems.

Research Areas

The program has several research areas, including:

• Applied electromagnetics and photonics
• Artificial intelligence
• Biomedical engineering
• Communications and Information Systems
• Computer hardware
• Computer software and systems
• Control, robotics, and autonomous systems
• Integrated devices, circuits, and systems
• Nanoengineering
• Power and energy systems
• Quantum engineering

Course Details

One of the courses offered in the program is ECE 6608 PD, which covers the theory of gases, photoelectric, thermal and field emission, and ionization by collision, photo-ionization, thermal ionization, and ionization by x-rays and cosmic rays.

Course Objectives

The objectives of the course are:

1. Understanding of the basics of dielectric physics of insulating materials.
2. Understanding the conduction and breakdown mechanisms in gaseous, liquid, and solid insulating materials.

Course Prerequisites

The prerequisites for the course are basic knowledge of physics of materials for Electrical Engineers (ECE 209 or equivalent) and familiarity with electrical power system components.

Course Topics

The course covers the following topics:

1. Gaseous Dielectrics
2. Liquid Dielectrics
3. Solid Dielectrics

Course Delivery Plan

The course is delivered through lectures, with the following topics and subtopics: Lectures | Topic | Sub-Topics ---|---|--- 12 | Gaseous Dielectrics |

• Theory of gases; Ionization by collision, photoionization, thermal ionization, and ionization by x-rays and cosmic rays; Deionization due to recombination, negative ion formation, and diffusion
• Behavior of charged particles in electric fields of low E/P and high E/P (E = electric field and P = pressure)
• Townsend mechanism, secondary effect, streamer formation, self-sustained discharges to breakdown
• Breakdown in non-uniform fields, temporal development of breakdown, partial breakdown or corona discharges 12 | Liquid Dielectrics |
• Types of liquid insulating materials, their electrical, thermal, and chemical properties
• Charge transport; breakdown mechanisms; effects of impurities on breakdown strength
• Electrohydrodynamics and its influence on breakdown mechanisms in liquids
• Streaming electrification 12 | Solid Dielectrics |
• Sources of current carriers
• Surface discharges; thermal, electrochemical, electromechanical
• Intrinsic breakdown strength of solids
• Tracking and breakdown of solids due to discharges

Graduate Program

The graduate program in Electrical and Computer Engineering offers several specializations, including:

• Applied electromagnetics and photonics
• Artificial intelligence
• Biomedical engineering
• Communications and Information Systems
• Computer hardware
• Computer software and systems
• Control, robotics, and autonomous systems
• Integrated devices, circuits, and systems
• Nanoengineering
• Power and energy systems
• Quantum engineering

Funding and Scholarships

The program offers several funding and scholarship opportunities for graduate students, including teaching assistantships and research awards.

Alumni and Friends

The program has a strong alumni network, with many graduates going on to successful careers in industry and academia. The program also offers several awards and honors for outstanding alumni, including the Alumni Gold Medal and the Alumni Achievement Awards.