Optics Lecture and Homework Schedule

Date

Lecture Topics

Reading

(pages)

Homework Problems

HW#

1/20 & 1/21

Speed of Light:  history, current definition, wave equation, index of refraction, phase velocity versus group velocity, recent discoveries of very slow and fast light

11-20, 43, 44, 66, 295-299

2.2, 2.26, 3.4, 3.38, 3.39, 3.49, 7.25

1

due

1/27

1/21

Energy, momentum, & photons

46-56

3.13, 3.17

1/27

Geometrical Optics I: Snell’s Law, total internal reflection, thin lens equation, imaging, magnification

100-102, 121, 122, 153-159, 185-188

4.13, 4.17, 4.46, 4.48, 5.6

2

due 2/3

1/28 &2/3

Geometrical Optics II: imaging systems, mirrors, matrix methods, aberrations

252-258, 271, 272

5.16, 5.22, 5.29, 5.34, 5.59, 6.15

2/3 & 2/4

Polarization: types of polarization, controlling polarization, Fresnel Reflections, Brewster's Angle

319-331, 342-346, 348-350, 111-113

3

due 2/17

2/10

2/11 & 2/17

Interference: interferometers, coherence, thin films

377-387, 392-403, 412-418

2/17 & 2/18

Diffraction:  Fraunhofer vs. Fresnel, single & multiple slits, diffraction gratings, rectangular & circular apertures

433-438, 442-461

10.7, 10.8, 10.11, 10.29, 10.31

4

due 2/24

2/18 & 2/24

Fourier Optics: Fourier transforms, Gaussian function, spatial filtering

512-514, 517, 532-533, 604-610

2/24 & 2/25

Lasers:  theory of amplification, transverse and longitudinal modes, types of lasers

580-594

2/25 & 3/2

Nonlinear Optics:  series expansion of material polarization, second harmonic generation, phase matching, frequency mixing

634-639

3/4

Exam 2 (Polarization --> Nonlinear Optics)