Pre-requisites: Calculus, Knowledge of Differential Equations, Complex Algebra, (Phys 160 and 161).
Assignments: Homework problem sets will be assigned on a regular basis throughout the semester, most likely one set per week. The
overall HW grade will count as 20% of the final. Click
here to go to the assignments page.
Tests: There will be two in-class, closed-book tests (each counting 20% of final grade) at regular intervals during the semester and a comprehensive final exam (40% of final grade) at the end.
Tentative Test Dates (subject to change): February 20th and April 9th. Last day to drop the
course (without a grade) is February 27th. Final exam is currently scheduled for Wednesday May 12th, 10:00–12:00.
Grading: The final grade is weighted as follows:
Midterms: 20% each (40% total)
Final: 40%
Homework: 20%
Syllabus
1- Introduction (historical overview)
2- Waves (properties of harmonic waves, complex representation, superposition,..)
3- Electromagnetic Theory of Light (basic laws, energy and momentum, photons, radiation spectrum, light-matter interaction, dispersion, ..)
4- Propagation of Light (Fermat’s principle, Fresnel laws of reflection and refraction, Maxwell’s equations, ..)
5- Geometric Optics (spherical surfaces, thin lenses, mirrors, imaging, prisms, fiberoptics, ray tracing, aberrations..)
6- Optical Systems (human eye, camera, telescopes, microscopes,..)
7- Wave Optics (superposition, wave packets, pulses, group velocity ..)
8- Polarization of Light (polarizers, birefringence, waveplates, ..)
9- Interference (principles, interferometers, single and multilayer films,..)
10- Diffraction (Fraunhofer diffraction, Fresnel diffraction, implications for imaging systems..)
11- Coherence Theory
12- Modern Optics (lasers, holography, ..)
