Physics 531 – Optics                  Fall 2004

Instructor
:  Cass Sackett     email:  sackett@virginia.edu
TA:  Jeramy Hughes             email:  kjh4p@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

Introduction Lecture 14 (10/21)  -  Fourier transform
Lecture 1 (9/2)  - Waves Fourier Transforms (handout)
Complex Numbers (handout) Lecture 15 (10/26)  -  Fourier and wave propagation
Lecture 2 (9/7)  -  Electromagnetism Lecture 16 (10/28)  -  Huygens-Fresnel theory and Fraunhofer diffraction
Lecture 3 (9/9)  -  Light and matter Lecture 17 (11/2)  -  Applications of  Fraunhofer diffraction
Lecture 4 (9/14)  -  Scattering approach Lecture 18 (11/4)  -  Fourier optics
Lecture 5 (9/16)  -  Fermat's principle Lecture 19 (11/9)  -  Polarization of light
Lecture 6 (9/21)  -  Fresnel relations Lecture 20 (11/11)  -  Polarizers and retarders
Lecture 7 (9/23)  -  TIR and metal mirrors Lecture 21 (11/16)  -  Retarders and Jones calculus
Lecture 8 (9/28)  -  Ray optics I Lecture 22 (11/18)  -  Interferometers
Lecture 9 (9/30)  -  Ray optics II Lecture 23 (11/23)  -  Laser beams
Lecture 10 (10/5)  -  Ray matrices Lecture 24 (11/30)  -  Coherence theory - temporal
Lecture 11 (10/7)  -  Optical systems survey Lecture 25 (12/2)  -  Coherence theory - spatial
Regarding the midterm Lecture 26 (12/7)  -  Quantum Optics
Lecture 12 (10/14)  -  Aberrations and system design Lecture 27 (12/9)  -  Final Review
Lecture 13 (10/19)  -  Superposition and interference

Homework Assignments
HW 1      due  9/14      solutions      Avg: 30/35
HW 2      due  9/21      solutions      Avg: 23/30
HW 3      due  9/28      solutions      Avg: 31/35
HW 4      due  10/5      solutions      Avg: 26/30
HW 5      due  10/14    solutions      Avg: 26/30
HW 6      due  10/26    solutions a,b    Avg:  20/25
HW 7      due  11/2      solutions      Avg:   20/25
HW 8      due  11/9      solutions      Avg:   19/25
HW 9      due  11/23    solutions      Avg:   24/30
HW 10    due  12/7      solutions      Avg:   19/25

Exams
Midterm   due 10/21   solutions   Avg: 40/60     Std Dev: 11
Final   12/17   solutions   Avg: 44/80     Std Dev: 15

Course grade statistics:

A+
1
A
11
A-
25
B+
5
B
5
B-
7