3 credits
Spring 2026 Lecture Distance Learning Upper Division
Basic control over propagation, reflection, refraction of optical radiation are covered. Applications to optical instrumentation such as microscopy, polarization optics such as wave plates, thin films, and holography are discussed. Geometrical optics including lenses, mirrors, prisms; Huygens' principle, Fermat principle; rays; incoherent light. Physical Optics including gratings, interferometers, diffraction elements, polarizers; Huygens-Fresnel principle. Waves, amplitude and phase, coherent light. Law of reflection and refraction, interference, diffraction, polarization.
Learning Outcomes1Analyze simple optical systems including dielectric slabs, thin lenses, and reflectors.
2Model Gaussian beams and the transformation of beams.
3Analyze and design polarization systems, including polarizers and wave plates.
4Know of optical interferometers and the operations of interferometers such as the Michelson, Fabry-Perot and double-slit.
5Analyze diffraction patterns.
Prerequisites
Restrictions
made by Purdue students.