298: Optics
Syllabus
Term: Spring 2001
Instructor: John Collins
Text: Optics, 3rd Ed., Eugene Hecht
Other Readings:
Microscopy from the Very Beginning, Dr. F. K. Mollring
Contrast Methods in Microscopy: Transmitted Light, M. Abramowitz
Fluorescence Microscopy: The Essentials, M. Abramowitz
Reflected Light Microscopy: An Overview, M. Abramowitz
Microscopy: Basics and Beyond, M. Abramowitz
QED, Richard Feynman
Goals:
1.
Learn how to operate and understand all of the optical equipment in the Science
Center. A partial list of that equipment: microscopes, telescopes, cameras
(digital, film), projectors, spectrometers (Monochromator, Absorption
Spectrometer, Raman Spectrometer), fluorescence microscope, lasers, simple lens
systems, and fiber optics.
2.
To understand basic geometric optics and its many applications and limitations.
3.
To understand the wave theory of light and to observe the wave nature of light
(diffraction, interference, scattering, polarization).
4.
To introduce the interaction of light with matter: absorption, scattering,
reflection, refraction, birefringence, polaroids, and dichroism.
5.
To understand the superposition of waves. Topics include bandwidth, coherence,
Fourier analysis, and wave packets. Applications to holography and
interferometry.
6.
Introduce the quantum theory of light.
Course
Topics:
1.
Geometric Optics: Reflection and refraction thin lens systems, apertures,
mirrors, prisms, and fiber optics. Special topic: Wavefront shaping (phase
conjugation.)
2.
Wave Motion: Harmonic waves, superposition, complex representation of waves,
phasors, plane waves, the wave equation, and spherical waves.
3.
Introduction to Electromagnetic Theory: electromagnetic waves, energy and
momentum of light, light in matter.
4.
The Propagation of Light: Rayleigh Scattering, reflection and refraction, Fermat¹s
Principle, total internal reflection, optical properties of metals, interaction
of light and matter. Special Topics: Stokes Treatment of Reflection and
Refraction, and QED.
5.
Special Topics: Thick lenses, Lens systems, Aberrations
6.
The Superposition of Waves: Wave equation, addition of waves, beats, group
velocity, Fourier series and Fourier integrals, coherence.
7.
Polarization: various polarization states, dichroism, Polaroid films,
scattering, birefringence, polarization by scattering and by reflection,
waveplates, polarization matrices.
8.
Interference: two-slit interference, Amplitude splitting interferometers (Michelson
Interferometer, thin films), Fabry-Perot Interferometer, antireflection
coatings, interference filters. Special Topics: Fresnel biprism, Newton¹s
Rings, ring laser gyroscope, Fabry-Perot etalon.
9.
Diffraction: Huygens-Fresnel Principle, near- and far-field diffraction, single
slit diffraction, multiple slit diffraction, diffraction from apertures. Special
Topics: diffraction grating, diffraction from a pinhole.
10.
Introduction to Fourier Optics:
11.
Holography
Laboratory
Exercises:
1.
The compound microscope
2.
Telescopes
3.
The fluorescence microscope
4.
Total internal reflection and fiber optics
5.
Addition of Waves (computer exercise)
6.
Polarization of light
7.
Fresnel biprism
8.
Two slit interference
9.
Newton’s rings
10.
Diffraction from a pinhole
11.
The diffraction grating
12.
Michelson Interferometer
13.
Fabry-Perot interferometer
14.
Holography
15.
Computer-generated holograms