PHYC/ECE 463: Advanced Optics I

Instructor
Prof. F. Elohim Becerra
Email: fbecerra@unm.edu
Office: PAÍS 2514
Phone: 505 277-2673

Teaching Assistant (grader)
Zadid Shifat
Email: zadidshifat@unm.edu
Office: CHTM


Description of the class

This course studies the fundamentals of optics and some applications, and covers diverse topics in geometrical and physical optics. The course addresses the study of electromagnetic theory, fundamental properties of light, waves, Gaussian beams, ray tracing and matrix methods, basic optical elements and devices, image formation, interference, diffraction and topics in modern/advanced optics.

Prerequisites: E&M, Maxwell and Wave eqns., Undergraduate Physics, Partial Differential Equations and Calculus, Linear & Complex Algebra, Matrix algebra, Background in Optics.

*This class requires background in Linear Optics and Physical Optics at the Introductory Optics Class level.


Lectures

Monday and Wednesday, 9:30-10:45 am PAÍS 1160

Textbook

There are many useful texbooks that cover the topics on the class.

The course will use the textbook by Frank L. Pedrotti, Leno M. Pedrotti, and Leno S. Pedrotti. We will cover topics from some chapters within Ch1-23, and other additional topics form other resources.

Introduction to Optics (3rd Edition): Frank L. Pedrotti, Leno M. Pedrotti, and Leno S. Pedrotti.

Additional Resources

Homework Assignments

There will be regular assignments of problem sets including problems from the textbook by E. Pedrotti and other exercises, about one set per week. 

The assignments will be given throughout the semester and will be posted in the Tentative Schedule about one week before they are due. Homeworks must be turned in to the TA's mailbox before 5:00 pm on the due date.

Office hours

Office hours: Monday 11:00 am -13:00 pm. You may also arrange a meeting for another time via email.

Teaching Assistant support:

No TA (Grader) Office Hours. Contact the grader via email to discuss any homework grading issues you may have. You may also contact the TA for questions in the homework. (See P&A Teaching Assistant Duties)

Grading

The final grade will be based on the homework assignments, one midterm exam and a final exam. The contribution to the final grade is as follows:

  1. Homework: 20%
  2. Midterm exam 1 (MT1): 25%
  3. Midterm exam 2 (MT2): 25%
  4. Final exam: 30%

Exam Dates (subject to change):

  • Midterm 1 (MT1), September 22.
  • Midterm 2 (MT2), October 27.
  • The Final Exam is notcomprehensive and is scheduled for Wednesday/Friday, December 10/12, 7:30 am- 9:30 am (TBD)

Syllabus Topics

Below is a tentative list of topics that will be covered. You can find the calendar for the course in the Tentative Schedule

  1. Introduction to optics
    - Overview; optics and fundamental of light; Fermat principle; reflection and refraction; ray and eikonal equations.
  2. Geometrical optics
    Image formation and ray tracing; Paraxial optics and basic optical elements (lens, mirrors, etc.); Matrix methods in paraxial optics; Stops and apertures; Aberration theory
  3. Physical optics
    Maxwell Equations, E&M waves and Gaussian beams; Index of refraction, dispersion, and group and phase velocity; Radiometry and photometry; Fresnel equations of reflection and refraction though dielectric interface
  4. Interference
    Superposition of fields; Interference of multiple fields; Interference in multi-layer thin films (matrix formalism); Interferometers
  5. Diffraction theory
    Fraunhofer (far field) diffraction; Diffraction grating; Fresnel (near-field) diffraction; Fresnel plates
  6. Polarization
    Polarization of light; Jones matrix formalism; Polarizers and waveplates; Stokes vectors
  7. Modern and quantum optics
    If time allows, we will discuss some special topics such as Fundamentals; Field quantization and Dirac notation; Quantum properties of states of light

Additional resources

Class overview: Lecture 1

Sign Convension and Ray Tracing (Chapter 2)

Lasers: Anthony E. Siegman.
Laser Physics: P. W. Milonni, J. H. Eberly.
Optics, Light and Lasers: (2nd Edition) Dieter Meschede.
Fundamentals of Photonics , 2nd Edition: E. A. Saleh, Malvin Carl Teich.
Optics, 4th Edition: E. Hecht.
Laser Electronics (3rd Edition) by Joseph T. Verdeyen. (JV)

Tentative Schedule

Topic Date Subject Reading Homework HW Due Solutions
Introduction to Optics 08/18 (M) Overview, Fermat's principle; Reflection and refraction        
Geometrical Optics 08/20 (W) Paraxial optics, mirrors and lenses Chapter 2 HW1 (W) Aug 27 HW1sol
  08/25 (M) Matrix methods in paraxial optics        
  08/27 (W) Paraxial ray equation; GRIN systems Chapter 18; JV CH2 HW2 (W) Sep 03  
  09/01 (M) Labor Day        
  09/03 (W) Optical resonators Chapter 3; JV CH2      
  09/08 (M) Apertures Chapter 3      
  09/10 (W) Prisms and optical systems "      
  09/15 (M) Prisms and optical systems "