SYLLABUS
INTERMEDIATE OPTICS - PHYSICS 425
FALL SEMESTER, 2012
Mon., Wed., Fri., 3:00 to 3:50, Rm. 341 NSC
Instructor: Dr. A. Markelz
Office: 130 Fronczak,
Phone: 645-2739, email: amarkelz@buffalo.edu
Office Hrs: W 4 -5 PM Th 4:30-5:30 PM
See PHY 425 ublearns site for course info.
http://ublearns.buffalo.edu/
Textbooks: Optics, Eugene Hecht, 4th ed. (ISBN 0805385665)
A Student’s Guide to Fourier Transforms, J.F. James, (0521468299)
REQUIRED
OPTIONAL
PHY 425 is a one semester course on intermediate optics. The course is intended as an extension of
the topics introduced in PHY207 and PHY403/404, however students currently registered in PHY403
may take the course. We will develop and apply the general description of light through wave theory
and geometrical optics. Specific phenomena will be considered including optical activity, interference,
and diffraction. Modern topics such as new sources and materials such as metamaterials will be
discussed. To provide students an opportunity to sythensize these topics, students will develop and
give presentations on an optics topic of their choice, demonstrating how the underlying principles
discussed in the course give rise to the phenomena. The course is meant to sufficiently educate
students in optics so that they may readily understand general literature and participate in optics related
physical science research and engineering. The table below lists the PHY 425 topics in more detail, and
the related learning expectations. The course strives to increase your knowledge of the breadth, depth,
historical development, and contemporary advance of these topics, and your proficiency in problem
solving using electromagnetic theory, and scientific thinking and communication.
TOPIC UNITS
Wave Motion
Electromagnetic Theory,
and Light Propagation
Light Sources
Light Propagation
Geometrical Optics
LEARNING OUTCOMES
Students are expected to master the following:
Understand the general properties of traveling
waves and how these dictate the mathematical
description. [1, 2, 3]
The development of the wave equation from
Maxwell’s equations. Harmonic solutions of wave
equation and the vector relationships between the
electric and magnetic fields to the propagation
direction, energy flow and momentum.
Mathematical manipulation of harmonic solutions
using the exponential form. [1, 2, 3]
General understanding of blackbody, incoherent,
coherent and laser soures. Figures of merit of
different sources and ability to reason the most
appropriate source for a particular application. [1,
2, 3]
Absorption and Refractive Index. Rayleigh
Scattering. Fresnel Coefficients. Total internal
reflection and evanescent waves. Applications such
as plasmon excitation and fiber transmission. [1, 2,
3]
Familiarity with standard optical elements and use
of ABCD law for determination of net propagation
through an optical system. General idea of
-1-
OUTCOME ASSESSMENT
Learning on topics is assessed as follows:
HW 1, Midterm 1
HW 1 - 8, Midterms 1 and 2, Final, and
presentation
HW 2, Midterm 1, Final, presentation
HW 3-8, Midterm 2, Final, presentation
HW 6, Midterm 2, Final, presentation
difference between ray and Gaussian optics. [1, 2,
3]
Linear versus circular polarization description.
Polarization
Dichroism, birefringence and optical activity.
HW 5, Midterm 2, Final
Polarization sensitive optical components. [1, 2, 3]
Interferometers, dielectric coatings, Fabry Perot
Interference
HW 8, Final
etalons. [1, 2, 3, 5]
Diffraction
Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction. [1, 2, 3, 5]
HW 8, Final
Fourier decomposition of temporal and spatial
Fourier Optics
HW 7, Final
profiles of light. [1, 2, 3]
Role of coherence in interference phenomena[1, 2,
Coherence
HW 7, Final
3]
One topic of current interest in popular media
Current Topics
(undergraduates) or in scientific media (graduates) HW 2, Presentation
[5, 6, 7]
1 The bracketed numbers in the 2nd column give the correspondence to the Physics Department’s undergraduate curriculum
goals: [1] The basic laws of physics; [2] Critical thinking; [3] Problem solving; [4] Laboratory skills; [5] General
knowledge of the development of physics; [6] Contemporary areas of physics inquiry; [7] Written and oral communication
skills. Note that not all courses emphasize all of the above goals.
-2-