Physics 531 – Optics                  Fall 2005

Instructor:  Cass Sackett     email:  sackett@virginia.edu

This page will be used for posting lecture notes, homework assignments, and solutions to homework and exam problems.  All documents are in pdf format.

Other useful links:

• syllabus
• course schedule

Lecture Notes and Supplemental Handouts

Complex Numbers	Fourier transforms handout
Introduction	10/13 – Fourier approach to wave propagation
8/25 – Waves	10/18 – Huygens-Fresnel theory and Fraunhofer diffraction
8/30 – Electromagnetism	10/20 – Applications of diffraction
9/1 – Light in matter	10/25 – Fourier optics
9/6 – Scattering approach	10/27 – Laser beams
9/8 – Fermat’s Principle	11/1 – Interferometers
9/13 – Fresnel relations	11/3 – Coherence theory: temporal
9/15 – Total internal reflection and metal mirrors	11/8 – Coherence theory: spatial
9/20 – Ray optics I	11/10 – Polarization of light
9/22 – Ray optics II	11/15 – Polarizers
9/27 – Ray matrices	11/17 – Retarders and Jones matrices
9/29 – Optical systems	11/29 – Photon optics
10/4 – Aberrations and system design	12/1 – Quantum optics
10/6 – Superpositions and interference	12/6 – Review
10/11 – Fourier transforms

Homework Assignments

HW 1     due  9/6 solutions avg: 11/14

HW 2    due  9/13 solutions avg: 9/12

HW 3    due  9/20 solutions avg: 11/14

HW 4    due  9/27 solutions avg: 9/12

HW 5    due  10/4 solutions avg: 9/12

HW 6    due  10/18 solutions avg: 6/8

HW 7    due  10/25 solutions avg: 7/10

HW 8    due  11/3 solutions avg: 8/12

HW 9    due  11/15 solutions avg: 6/10

HW 10    due  11/29 solutions avg: 9/12

HW 11    due  12/6 solutions avg: 6/8

Exams
midterm solutions avg: 33/60 std dev: 10

final solutions avg: 38/80 std dev: 11

Last year’s final

Course grade statistics:

A	7
A-	5
B+	8
B	3
B-	3
C+	1