Course detail
Wave Optics
FSI-TAO Acad. year: 2023/2024 Winter semester
The course deals with the fundamental phenomena and concepts of wave optics. It is extended by some parts of electromagnetic optics, such as polarisation, Fresnel equations, and anisotropic media. The second part of the course is focused on interference phenomena and light coherence. The third part deals with diffraction and holography. Interference and diffraction phenomena are demonstrated and practiced in laboratories.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
7
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
Basic course of physics. Calculus of functions of several variables.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Course-unit credit is conditional on active participation in seminars and calculation of given examples.
Examination: written test and oral examination.
Attendance at seminars is obligatory and is checked by the teacher. Absence may be compensated by the agreement with the teacher.
Aims
The aim of the course is to provide students with basic ideas of interference, scalar theory of diffraction and its applications, and topics connected with wave optics and polarisation.
1. Knowledge of the theory of optical interference and diffraction phenomena.
2. Experimental erudition for the work in laboratory of optical interferometry and diffraction.
3. Ability to interpret in detail diffraction and interference phenomena.
The study programmes with the given course
Programme N-PMO-P: Precise Mechanics and Optics, Master's, compulsory
Type of course unit
Lecture
26 hours, optionally
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
1. Maxwell's equations. Wave equation. Scalar and vector wave. Mathematical description and properties.
2. Polarization. Basic polarization states. Jones vectors and matrices. Principles of light polarization.
3. Fresnel equations.
4. Optics of anisotropic materials. Description, propagation of light. Optical activity, birefrigence. Polarizing elements. Optical activity.
5. Basics of the theory of coherence. Function of mutual coherence, degree of coherence. Interference of two partially coherent waves.
6. Two-beam interference. Description, examples, calculation. Two-beam interferometry and its usage.
7. Multiple-beam interference. Fabry-Perot interferometer. Interference filter. Coatings. Diffraction gratings.
8. The Huygens-Fresnel principle and the diffraction integrals. The Fresnel and the Fraunhofer diffraction. The Soret plate.
9. The Fraunhofer diffraction phenomena. Fraunhofer diffraction as the Fourier transform and its realization in the laboratory.
10. The Fresnel diffraction phenomena.
11. The Fresnel diffraction as a transfer by a linear isoplanatic system. Impulse response function, optical transfer function.
13. Holography, holographic interferometry, and digital holographic interferometry.
Laboratory exercise
14 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
Young's experiment. Newton's fringes.
Shearing interferometry. Setting-up plane wave by reflection on plan-parallel plate.
Visualization of the phase objects by Murty interferometer, Michelson interferometer and Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Experimental arrangement for observation and registration of Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction patterns.
Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction by circular aperture.
Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction by a double-slit.
Exercise
12 hours, compulsory
Teacher / Lecturer
Syllabus
Seminars include exaples and practical problems related to the course.