Physics 213: Introduction to Modern Optics

Fall 2026 Course schedule (updated 8/1/2026)

Week

Material covered

Assignments

Aug. 26 - Aug. 28
(short week)

Introduction,  development of optical science from antiquity to modern days

No homework

Aug. 31 - Sep. 4

Ray optics, reflection and refraction, lenses

No homework

Sep. 7 - Sep. 11

Labor Day (Sep. 7; no classes)
Systems of lenses and mirrors

Homework #1
Due Sep. 11

Sep. 14 - Sep. 18

Optical instruments, Photography

Homework #2

Due Sep. 18

Sep. 21 - Sep. 25

Electromagnetic waves, interference

 

Homework #3

Special project #1
Due  Sep. 25

Sep. 28 - Oct. 2

Interference and diffraction

Midterm test #1 (Sept. 30)

No homework

Oct. 5 - Oct. 9

Interference and diffraction
Fall Break (no classes Oct. 9)

No homework

 

Oct. 12 - Oct. 16

Classical electromagnetic theory

Homework #4

Special project #2
Due Oct. 16

Oct. 19 - Oct. 23

Polarization phenomena

Homework #5
Due Oct. 23

Oct. 26 - Oct. 30

Light in matter: scattering, absorption and dispersion.

Homework #6
Due Oct. 30

Nov. 2 - Nov. 6

Quantum behavior of light

Midterm test #2 (Nov. 4)

No homework

 

Nov. 9 - Nov. 13

Quantum behavior of light and atoms

Homework #7
Due Nov. 13

Nov. 16 - Nov. 20

Spectroscopy and origins of colors

Homework #8

Special project #3
Due Nov. 20

Nov. 23 - Nov. 27

Photons as qubits (virtual)

Thanksgiving break begins Nov. 25

No homework

Nov. 30 - Dec. 4

Optical quantum technologies

Homework #9
Due Dec. 4

Dec. 14

Final exam (9am-12pm)

 

 

*Assignments have ALV-related components in them

 

Introduction and Ray optics 1,2

Lenses 3.1-3.6

Optical Instruments 4.1-4.5.2, 4.8

Wave optics and interferometers 5.1-5.7.1, 5.8,5.9

Diffraction and gratings 6.1-6.9

Astronomical telescopes 8.1-8.3

Electromagnetic theory and Fresnel’s laws 9.1,9.4-9.6, 9.8-9.8.1

Polarization phenomena 10.1-10.4, 10.5, 10.5.2-10.7.1, 10.8-10.8.3

Light in matter 11.1-11.6.2

Quantum behavior of light 12, 13.1-13.5.2, 13.11-13.13

Lasers and detectors 14.1-14.4, 14.4.3-14.6, 15.1-15.3.1, 15.7-15.9

Optical fiber communications 16.1-16.2, 16.4-16.6, 16.9-16.10.1, 16.13-16.14

 

Arts units: 1 lecture on color theory/tones, hues, etc.

Photography as optical instrumentation

Polarization art