All reading assignments refer to sections of the textbook, Optical Physics. They should be completed before the class for which they are assigned. To see details about the individual assignments, follow the appropriate links. Some links (such as to problem solutions!) may not be activated before a specified date.
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| JANUARY 13
Reading: Chap. 1, which provides a short introduction to the history of ideas in optics. |
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| 18 NO
CLASS (LEM in Alabama)
Reading: 2.1-2.6: review of basic properties of simple harmonic waves in a homogeneous medium 5.1-5.2, 5.4.1-5.4.2: electromagnetic waves and the Fresnel coefficients, which should be a review from PHYS 108 |
20
Reading: 5.4.3-5.5: physical consequences of the Fresnel coefficients (Brewster’s angle, total internal reflection) |
| 25
SNOW DAY--CLASS CANCELLED | 27
SNOW DAY--CLASS CANCELLED |
| FEBRUARY
1
Reading: 6.4-6.5: electromagnetic
waves in anisotropic media |
3
Reading: 6.6: birefringence |
| 8
Reading: 6.8: applications of propagation in anisotropic media
| 10
Reading: 6.7: optical activity (circular birefringence) |
| 15
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17
Reading: 3.5: geometrical optics in the matrix formation |
| 22
Reading: 3.6-3.7: image formation |
24
Reading: 3.1-3.2, 3.4, 3.10: assorted optical instruments |
| 29 (yes,
2000 is a leap year)
Reading: 3.8: aberrations MAKE-UP DAY: Wednesday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. | MARCH 2
Reading: 4.1-4.6: review of Fourier theory, convolution Bibliography due |
| 7
Reading: 7.1-7.2.5: scalar wave theory
of diffraction |
9
Reading: 7.2.6-7.2.7: introduction to Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction Paper due |
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| 21 (LEM in
Minneapolis, substitute lecturer Prof. Slifkin)
Reading: 7.3: Fresnel diffraction, circular systems |
23 (LEM in
Minneapolis, substitute lecturer Prof. Slifkin)
continue with Fresnel diffraction in circular systems |
| 28
David Schieber History of optics Jimmy Hague Adaptive optics in astronomy Victor Knight Bending loss in optical fibers |
30
Kamal Bennoune Bose-Einstein condensation TJ Modzelewski Atom lasers and their applications Greg Metz X-ray lasers |
| APRIL 4
Ryan McCabe Acoustic imaging Cavan Fleming Applications of the optical Kerr effect Keith Thomas Solitons |
6
Reading: 7.4: Fresnel diffraction, slits |
| 11
Reading: 8.1-8.2.6: Fraunhofer diffraction and the Fourier transform |
13
Reading: 8.2.7-8.2.10, 12.3.1-12.3.3: circular holes, Airy disk, resolution limit |
| 18
Reading: 8.3, 9.1-9.2: interference and interferometry |
20
Reading: 9.3, 9.5: interferometers, thin-film interference |
| 25
Reading: 10.1-10.2: optical waveguides |
27
Reading: 10.3: optical fibers |
| MAY 2
Reading: 10.4.1-10.4.3: matrix formulation for multilayers |
4
Reading: 10.4.4-10.4.5: dielectric mirrors and filters |
| MAY 9
8:00 a.m. |