Optics

About the course Optics

Optics is a branch of physics that focuses on the description, explanation, and behavior of light. To define light, the field of Optics employs three models: geometric optics (rays), physical optics (continuous waves), and quantum optics (discrete photons). During the Optics course, you will be introduced to the first two models, supplemented with practical sessions involving optical instruments and components.

You will begin with an introduction to geometric optics, covering topics such as reflection, refraction, prisms, lenses, visual equipment, and design aspects of optical systems. Subsequently, you will learn the fundamental aspects of physical optics, including wave theory, interference, diffraction, polarization, birefringence, and fiber optics. By the end of the course, you will be proficient in working with optical instruments, components, and techniques, along with their associated tools.

Geometric optics

• The functioning of reflection
• The functioning of refraction
• The prism: prism as a reflective and refractive element, the viewfinder in a reflex camera, the prism binoculars, the spectroscope, and the plane-parallel plate
• Spherical mirror: concave and convex mirrors, imaging using a concave mirror, Gauss and Newton's formulas
• The lens: lens shapes, imaging using a lens, Gauss and Newton's formulas, lens power
• Two or more lenses: two or more lenses together and separated, image construction using principal and focal points
• Visual equipment: angular magnification, magnifying glass, microscope, binoculars, and the role of entrance pupil in these instruments
• Image errors: aspherical surfaces, spherical aberration, coma, astigmatism and field curvature, distortion, longitudinal and lateral chromatic aberration
• Design aspects of optical systems: numerical aperture (NA), depth of field, telecentric systems, and radiometry/photometry
• Optical fibers: step-index, graded-index, and single-mode fibers

Physical optics

• Wave theory: Huygens' principle, reflection, refraction, and optical path length
• Interference: two sources side by side and one behind the other, Fizeau's wedge, Newton's rings, Michelson's interferometer, grating, and Fabry-Pérot interferometer
• Diffraction: diffraction at a rectangular and a circular aperture, resolving power and maximum magnification of the telescope and microscope, Abbe's sine rule, color resolving power of a grating
• Polarization and double refraction: polarization, double refraction, the 1/2 λ- and 1/4 λ-plate, Nicol and Wollaston prisms
• Lasers