PHY 330 Optical Physics

Fall 2007

TR 11:00 - 12:15 , MLT 309

Instructor:     George Rutherford, MLT 308-A

                        438-2934         GHR - AT - ILSTU.EDU

                        Office Hours   MWF  2:00 - 3:00, TR 9 - 10, walk in, or by appointment

                        Lab:  SLB 029-A   438-5718

Text:               Optics, 4^th edition, by Eugene Hecht

Overview:

            This course gives an upper-level undergraduate treatment of the rather broad field of optical physics. It includes brief reviews of waves, electromagnetism, and geometrical optics as well as more in-depth treatments of interference and diffraction. Some topics from geometrical optics are also extended to more complicated systems of practical importance. Polarization, often given short shrift in earlier courses, is considered in some depth. Lasers are considered from both conceptual and practical viewpoints. Fourier optics and other special topics are considered if time permits.

Objectives:

• To solidify and extend understanding of geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, and polarization
• To acquire understanding of lasers and other useful applications of optical phenomena
• To sharpen analytical and computational skills useful in solving optical problems

Student Expectations:

• Be on-time for all classes. 
• Be on your best behavior - polite, respectful, and ready to learn.
• Keep up with class topics and read in the text ahead of the current lecture. 
• Participate in class. Ask questions if you don't understand something, correct me if I make a mistake on the board, and if you come across a neat topic in optics, bring it up.
• Work all homework problems and turn them in on time for a grade.
• Come to my office if you have problems.  Try to work things out by yourself or by talking to your fellow students, but if you truly get stuck, don't let another day go by before you come see me and get things straightened out.  If you can't find me in the office or around the department, try the lab.

Schedule of Topics, Exams, etc:

    We'll cover most of the sections in Hecht's book, more or less in the order they appear. A brief outline is given below.

Chapter 2 - Wave motion: A quick review, with the addition of the complex representation of waves.
Chapter 3 - Electromagnetic Theory, Photons, and Light - More review, so this should go quickly.
Chapter 4 - The Propagation of Light - Selected topics, and this also should go quickly.
Chapter 5 - Geometrical Optics - Review of lenses, mirrors, etc., with special topics (systems, e.g.) near the end.
Chapter 6 - More Geometrical Optics - Thick lenses, matrix methods, and a little about aberrations.
Chapter 7 - The Superposition of Waves - Review of superposition, standing waves, beats, etc. Also super- and subluminal light and the Fourier series.
Chapter 8 - Polarization - We'll do most of this chapter; it's cool stuff, but not too mathematical until near the end.
Chapter 9 - Interference - Bread and butter of optics. The Fabry-Perot interferometer is a good case study.
Chapter 10 - Diffraction - More bread and butter optics, but also more mathematical.

And, as time permits, we'll do lasers and holography from Chapter 13 and Fourier Optics from Chapter 11.

Homework:  Check the bottom of this section later for homework problems and due dates.

            Homework problems will be assigned on a regular basis, and the due date will be announced when a group of problems is assigned.  The assignments and due dates will also be posted on the course webpage.  Your work should be neat, legible, and organized.  Please restate the problem clearly, including diagrams, before showing the solution.  Some of the assignments will include computer work; more details later.

Make-up Policy:

            Make-up exams are given only for unavoidable absences due to personal illness or death in your immediate family.  Appropriate documentation is required.  Exams missed for other reasons will receive a grade of zero.  Late homework will not be accepted, so make sure your homework is brought to class by a friend or classmate if you cannot attend.  Your lowest homework grade will be dropped before I calculate your homework average.

Grading:

            Your grade will be determined by the following breakdown of assignments:

            2 Exams, 20% each                 40%

            Final Exam                              30%

            Homework                              30%

Letter grades are determined by the usual 90/80/70/60 scale.  Exam grades may be curved.  Course averages that just miss a letter grade cutoff may be adjusted upward depending on class participation, behavior, punctuality, etc.

Online grades will be available later; check back here for the link.