Course detail

Mathematics of Wave Optics

FSI-9MAV Acad. year: 2022/2023 Winter semester

Special functions are frequently used in monographs and papers dealing with wave optics. In spite of that they are not involved in the curricula (e. g. the Lommel functions of two variables or the Fresnel integrals). In some cases a mathematical literature does not exist at all (e. g. the Zernike polynomials). Most of the graduates from the technological universities never studied special functions, not even the standard ones (e. g. the Bessel functions). Therefore, the post-graduate students of optical engineering have troubles with the study of books and papers, with mathematical treatment of their own results, and with numerical calculations. The present course offers an overview of mathematics used in wave optics. The exposition is kept in frames of functions of real variables and applications are emphasized.

Language of instruction

Czech

Learning outcomes of the course unit

An overview of special functions.
Applications of special functions in wave optics.

Prerequisites

The exposition is kept in frames of functions of real variables and applications are emphasized.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is taught through lectures explaining the basic principles and theory of the discipline.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Examination: Oral. Both practical and theoretical knowledge of the course is checked in detail. The examined student has 90 minutes to prepare the solution of the problems and he/she may use books and notes.

Aims

To gain an overview of mathematics used in wave optics.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

The presence of students at practice is obligatory and is monitored by a tutor. The way how to compensate missed practice lessons will be decided by a tutor depending on the range and content of the missed lessons.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme D-FIN-K: Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology, Doctoral, recommended course

Programme D-FIN-P: Physical Engineering and Nanotechnology, Doctoral, recommended course

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

20 hours, optionally

Syllabus

1. Elementary functions.
2. Gamma and digamma functions.
3. Sine and cosine integrals.
4. The Fresnel integrals.
5. The Dirac distribution.
6. Orthogonal systems of functions. The Gramm-Schmidt orthogonalization process.
7. Hypergeometric functions.
8. The Bessel functions.
9. The Fourier transform.
10. The Hankel transforms.
11. The Jacobi polynomials.
12. The Gegenbauer polynomials.
13. The Chebyshev polynomials.
14. The Zernike polynomials.