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 to optics Brief(est) optics timeline (8/26) Intro to ray optics (8/28)	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)