Physics 213: Introduction to Modern Optics

Fall 2016 Course schedule

(last updated Aug. 26, 2016)

Week	Material covered	Homework assignment
Aug. 24 – Aug. 26 (short week)	Introduction,  development of optical science from antiquity to modern days More information: Light Fantastic documentary Solo Hermelin's Optics time line	No homework
Aug. 29 – Sep. 2	Ray optics, reflection and refraction, lenses 8/29 Refraction, total internal reflection 9/02 Imaging with a convergent lens	Homework #1 Due Sep. 2
Sep. 5 – Sep. 9	Real lenses, Optical instruments 9/05 Imaging with a divergent lens 9/07 Optical systems 9/09Telescopes and microscopes	Homework #2 Due Sep. 9 Solutions Special project #1 Due Sep. 19
Sep. 12 – Sep. 16	Photography, Real lenses, Color vision 9/14Optical aberrations 9/16Color vision	Homework #3 Due Sep. 16 Solutions
Sep. 19 – Sep. 23	Midterm test #1 (Sept 23) Solutions Photography as art Invited lecture by Eliot Dudik	Homework #4 Due Sep. 23 Solutions
Sep. 26 – Sep. 30	Wave interference 9/26 Basics of interference 9/28 Two-slit interference and diffraction gratings 9/30 Interferometers	Homework #5 Due Sep. 30 Solutions
Oct. 3 – Oct. 7	Interference and diffraction 10/3 Thin film interference 10/5 Diffraction 10/7 Maxwell Equantions	Homework #6 Due Oct. 7 Solutions
Oct. 10 – Oct. 14	Fall break Classical electromagnetic theory, Fresnel’s equations 10/12 Energy and momentum of an electromagnetic wave 10/14 Reflection and transmission coefficients	No homework
Oct. 17 – Oct. 21	Special project: building pinhole camera Midterm test #2 (Oct. 21) Solutions	Homework #7 Due Oct. 21 Solutions Special project #2
Oct. 24 – Oct. 28	Polarization phenomena 10/24 Polarization basics 10/26 Passive polarization control 10/28 Active polarization control	Homework #8 Due Oct. 28 Solutions
Oct. 31 – Nov. 4	Light in matter: scattering, absorption and dispersion. 10/31 Light scattering 11/02 Classical model of absorption and dispersion	Homework #9 Due Nov. 4 Solutions Special project #3
Nov. 7 – Nov. 11	Midterm test #3 (Nov. 11) Quantum behavior 11/07 First evidence for quantum nature of light 11/09 Intro to quantum mechanics	Homework #10 Solutions Due Nov. 11
Nov. 14 –Nov. 18	Quantization of energy, Lasers 11/14 Energy levels in atoms 11/16 Light-atom interaction: semiclassical theory 11/18 Lasers	Homework #11 Solutions Due Nov. 18
Nov. 21 – Nov. 25	Thanksgiving break	No homework
Nov. 28 – Dec. 2	Quantum behavior of light 11/28 Quantization of electromagnetic field 11/30 Quantum states of light	Homework #12 Due Dec. 2
Dec. 9 (9am-12pm)	Final exam