Principles of Optics

Catalog description

This course is an introduction to physical and geometrical optics. Topics will include: wave and photon description of light; propagation of electromagnetic waves in vacuum and transparent media; mirrors, lenses, and simple optical instruments; basics of optical fibers; polarization of light and polarizing optical elements; interference; Michelson interferometer; Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction; diffraction gratings.