Course detail
Wave Optics
FSI-TAO Acad. year: 2027/2028 Winter semester
The course focuses on the basic principles and laws of wave and electromagnetic optics, emphasizing their physical nature, mathematical description, and experimental verification. It covers light polarization, Fresnel equations, optics of anisotropic media, coherence, and both two-beam and multi-beam interference. Another part is dedicated to diffraction theory, its mathematical description, and applications, including holography and holographic interferometry. Theoretical knowledge is complemented by lab experiments aimed at observing, performing, and evaluating interference and diffraction phenomena.
Language of instruction
Czech
Number of ECTS credits
7
Supervisor
Department
Entry knowledge
The student should have knowledge of an introductory physics course, especially the basics of optics. Knowledge of differential and integral calculus for functions of one and more variables, as well as basic skills in working with complex numbers and functions, is expected.
Rules for evaluation and completion of the course
Credit
The condition for awarding the credit is meeting the requirements set for exercises and laboratory sessions. The student must show active participation in solving the assigned physics problems and fulfill the requirements for conducting and evaluating laboratory experiments.
Attendance at exercises and laboratory sessions is mandatory. The student is required to make up any missed classes in a way agreed upon with the instructor.
Exam
The course is completed with an exam that has a written and oral part.
The written part checks the ability to apply theoretical knowledge to solving physics problems in the area of wave optics. The oral part checks understanding of the physical principles, connections, and applications of the topics covered.
The condition for registering for the exam is obtaining the credit.
Grading
The final grade for the course follows the valid grading scale of BUT and is based on the results of the written and oral parts of the exam.
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
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. 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. The Fresnel diffraction as a transfer by a linear isoplanatic system.
11. Holography, principles and applications. Digital holographic interferometry.
12. Basics of Fourier Optics – impulse response function, optical transfer function.
13. Visit of the optical laboratories of the Institute of Instrumentation Technology in Brno
Laboratory exercise
14 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
- Malus law, birefringence demonstration and its applications
- 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, double-slit and grating.
Exercise
12 hours, compulsory
Syllabus
Seminars include exaples and practical problems related to the course:
- Calculations of polarization states and working with Jones vectors;
- Fresnel equations and optics of anisotropic media;
- Coherence and two-beam interference;
- Multiple-beam interference and interference systems;
- Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction.