WHITTIER COLLEGE
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Physics 320: OPTICS |
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Spring 2011 |
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General
Information |
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Professor |
Dr.
Serkan Zorba |
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Office |
Science
105G |
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Phone |
907-4200
Ext. 4450 |
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E-mail |
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Class
meets |
Tu, Th 1:30-3:20 pm, SC 113 (Lab hours included). |
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Office
hours |
Mon,
Tue, Wed, Thrs 11:00-12:00p.m. |
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Textbook |
Introduction to Optics by Pedrotti&Pedrotti&Pedrotti, 3rd
Edition, Prentice Hall. ISBN: 978-0131499331 |
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Course
description |
Optical
products are all around us: from laser printers and cell phones, to CDs and telecommunication
fibers. This trend is to continue increasingly. Indeed, it is said that the
21st century will be photonics dominated. Optics
is the study of light, which we now know consists of a light “particle”
called photon. In other words, optics is really the study of a single
particle, photon. Now, that might strike you as a simple thing to do, but
hear what Einstein said: “Many
physicists think they know what a photon is. I have spent a lifetime working
on it but I still don’t know what a photon is.” In
this course, we will be learning about various aspects of light, and at the
end of it, evaluate Einstein’s remarks. Particularly, we will study
geometrical, physical, and quantum optics. Lasers will be especially a
central part of this course: we will learn about their physics, and do
experiments with them. There
will be a lecture once a week (on Tuesdays), and a lab section (on
Thursdays). Homework assignments and quizzes will be given regularly, so be
abreast with the course material. There will be two midterms and a final
examination. Experiments will be conducted in groups of 3 or 4. You will be
required to write separate lab reports for the first three labs, and one
single lab report for the whole group after that. The lab reports will be due
exactly one week after the experiment has been performed. A crucial part of
lab reports will be the error analysis. I will describe to you how you can do
that. For other info and detailed grade scheme see below. If you have a specific disability
that qualifies you for academic accommodations, please contact Disability
Services for letter of accommodation. |
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Attendance
policy |
You
cannot miss any lab without a valid excuse such as sickness or a family
emergency. For the former you have to bring in a note from your doctor. |
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Grading |
1st
Midterm: 20% (Mar 14, 2011) 2nd Midterm 20 % (Apr 13, 2011) Homework: 20 % Lab Reports (Error Analysis to be included): 20 % Final: 20 % (May 9, 2011; 1:00-3:00pm) |
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Homework |
Homework
will be posted on the course website, and will be due in class a week after
it is given. Homework solutions will be posted on the website right after the
due date. No homework will be accepted after the class! |
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Topics
to be covered |
Geometrical
Optics: Reflection, Refraction, Total Internal Reflection, Lenses Physical
Optics: Diffraction through Circular Apertures, Diffraction through Slits,
Interference, Michelson-Morley Interferometer, Newton Rings, Polarization of
Light, Birefringence, Abbe Theory of Imaging Quantum
Optics: Lasers, Coherence of Lasers |
Weekly
Schedule:
Weekly Schedule:
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Lecture: |
Experiment: |
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Week 1: |
Nature of Light (Chapter 1) |
No exp. |
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Week 2: |
Geometrical Optics (Chapters 2) Optional Reading: Optical Instrumentation (Chapter 3) |
Laws of Geometrical Optics Thin Lens Equation |
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Week 3: |
Characteristics of Laser Beams (Chapter 27) |
Expanding Laser Beams |
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Week 4: |
Interference of Light (Chapter 7) Optional Reading: Wave Equations (Chapters 4), and
Superposition of Waves (Chapter 5) |
Double-Slit Interference Single-Slit Diffraction |
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Week 5: |
Fraunhofer Diffraction (Chapter 11) Optional Reading: The Diffraction Grating (Chapter 12),
and Fresnel Diffraction (Chapter 13) |
Diffraction of Circular Apertures The Diffraction Grating |
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Week 6: |
Optical Interferometry (Chapter 8) |
The Michelson Interferometer |
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Week 7: |
Properties of Lasers (Chapter 6) |
No exp. |
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Week 8: |
Coherence (Chapter 9) Optional Reading: Laser Operation (Chapter 26) EXAM 1 (Monday, Mar 14) |
Laser and Coherence |
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Week 9: |
Spring Break |
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Week 10: |
Production of Polarized Light (Chp15) Matrix Treatment of
Polarization(Chp14) |
Polarization of Light |
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Week 11: |
Nonlinear Optics and Modulation of Light (Chapter 24) Optional Reading: Optical Properties of Materials (Chapter
25) |
The Faraday Effect |
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Week 12: |
Fourier Optics (Chapter 21) EXAM 2 (Wednesday, April 13) |
No exp. |
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Week 13: |
Fiber Optics (Chapter 10) |
The Abbe Theory of Imaging Fiber Optics and Speed of Light |
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Week 14: |
Selected Modern App. (Chapter 28) |
Additional Suggested
Readings: Holography (Chapter 16)
Note:
We will employ (mainly) a He-Ne laser (Class IIIa), and Nitrgen gas (Class
IIIb) and (possibly) Dye lasers (Class IIIb) in this class. Hence a portion of
the class time will be devoted to the operation of lasers.
Experiments:
1-) The Laws of Geometrical Optics
2-) The Thin Lens Equation
3-) Expanding Laser Beams
4-) Diffraction of Circular Apertures
5-) Single-Slit Diffraction and
Double-Slit Interference
6-) The Michelson Interferometer
7-) Lasers and Coherence
8-) Polarization of Light
9-) Birefringes of Materials: Faraday
Rotation
10-) The Abbe Theory of Imaging
11-) Fiber Optics and Speed of Light