640-351 Modern Optics

Credit Points

Coordinator

Prerequisites

Physics 640-227 or 640-247; Mathematics 620-231 and 620-232.

(For subjects completed prior to 1998, the Mathematics and Statistics departmental code 620- should be replaced by the superseded Mathematics departmental code 618-)

Semester

Contact

Subject Description

This subject provides an introduction to Fourier Optics and its applications to actual systems such as aperture synthesis telescopes. The production and interpretation of diffraction patterns is discussed and an introduction to the fundamentals of laser physics and fibre optics presented. Subject content includes: physical optics formalism for diffraction an imaging; Fourier transforms and convolution integrals to describe Fraunhofer diffraction; the physics of lasers and applications; introduction to optical fibres.

Assessment

A 1.5-hour end-of-semester written examination plus test and/or assignments, set during the semester, which may account for up to 20% of the final mark.

Prescribed Texts

• Hecht E, Optics. 2nd Ed Addison-Wesley.