.jpg)
- UCAS course code
- F345
- UCAS institution code
- M20
Course unit details:
Wave Optics
Unit code | PHYS20312 |
---|---|
Credit rating | 10 |
Unit level | Level 2 |
Teaching period(s) | Semester 2 |
Available as a free choice unit? | No |
Overview
Wave Optics
Pre/co-requisites
Unit title | Unit code | Requirement type | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Electromagnetism | PHYS20141 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Mathematics of Waves and Fields | PHYS20171 | Pre-Requisite | Compulsory |
Aims
To develop the concepts of wave optics and establish a firm grounding in modern optics.
Learning outcomes
Syllabus
1. Electomagnetism
• Recap of Maxwell’s equations and the wave equation in a dielectric
• General solutions to the wave equation
• Particular solutions to the wave equation: plane & spherical waves
• Wavefronts, rays, Poynting vector; the time-averaged optical field
• Optical spectra – temporal and spatial frequencies
• Huygens’ wavelets and Fermat’s principle. Example: gravitational lenses
(2 lectures)
2. Polarization
• Recap of polarization states; unpolarized and partially polarized light
• Polarization by reflection and scattering; Brewster’s angle.
• Polaroid and Malus’ law
• Optical anisotropy; wave equation in anisotropic media; birefringence; o- and e-rays; double refraction
• Polarizing beamsplitters and waveplates; Faraday rotators
(5 lectures)
3. Interference
• Conditions for interference; temporal and spatial coherence
• Young’s slits; Lloyd’s mirror; multiple slits. Extended sources, outline of radio interferometry
• The Michelson interferometer; Fourier Transform spectroscopy
• Thin films; Fabry-Perot etalon: resolution, FSR and finesse.
(6 lectures)
4. Diffraction
• Fraunhofer diffraction: single and double slit, rectangular and circular apertures, resolution of optical instruments
• Fraunhofer diffraction as a Fourier transform; convolution
• The diffraction grating and spectrometers
• Fresnel diffraction: circular obstacles and half-period zones; straight edges
(6 lectures)
5. Lasers
• Spontaneous and stimulated emission; absorption; Einstein coefficients
• Rate equations; population inversion and optical gain
• Optical cavities
• Steady state operation; threshold and efficiency
• An example laser system: Nd:YAG
(4 lectures)
Assessment methods
Method | Weight |
---|---|
Other | 10% |
Written exam | 90% |
* Other 10% Tutorial Work/attendance
Feedback methods
Feedback will be offered by tutors on students’ written solutions to weekly examples sheets, and model answers will be issued.
Recommended reading
Hecht, E., Optics, (Addison Wesley)
Smith, F.G. & King, T.A. Optics and Photonics - An Introduction (Wiley)
Further Reading
Jenkins, F.A. & White, H.E., Fundamentals of Optics, (McGraw Hill)
Lipson, S.G., Lipson, H.S. & Tannhauser, D.S., Optical Physics, (Cambridge)
Study hours
Scheduled activity hours | |
---|---|
Assessment written exam | 1.5 |
Lectures | 24 |
Tutorials | 4 |
Independent study hours | |
---|---|
Independent study | 70.5 |
Teaching staff
Staff member | Role |
---|---|
Neal Jackson | Unit coordinator |