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:

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