Introduction to Photonics
Course Overview:
Introduction to Photonics is an undergraduate level class focusing on the physical science of light. We also discuss the generation, detection, and manipulation of light and its use as an important tool in the sciences.
The course is organized into four units:
- Electromagnetic waves (Maxwell's equantions, properties of light, light propagation, light in matter);
- Geometric optics (lenses and mirrors, ray tracing, optical aberrations, telescopes, microscopes, the human eye);
- Wave optics (polarization, interference, diffraction, Fourier optics); and
- Modern optics (the laser, nonlinear optics, quantum optics).
Here is the syllabus for this course.
Course Schedule
This schedule is tentative and subject to change as the semester evolves.
| Week | Topic | Chapter | Homework or Exam (Wednesdays) | Dates |
| 1 | Wave Motion | Ch. 2 | (none due) | 8/21, 8/23 |
| 2 | Light: Electromagnetic Waves and Photons | Ch. 3 | homework 1 | 8/28, 8/30 |
| 3 | Propagation of Light | Ch. 4 | (none due) | 9/6, no class 9/4 |
| 4 | Propagation of light | Ch. 4 | homework 2 | 9/11, 9/13 |
| 5 | Geometric Optics | Ch. 5 | homework 3 | 9/18, 9/20 |
| 6 | Geometric Optics | Ch. 5 | homework 4 | 9/25, 9/27 |
| 7 | Geometric Optics: Optical Instruments | Ch. 6 | Midterm 1 | 10/2, 10/4 |
| 8 | Geometric Optics: Instruments and Aberrations | Ch. 6 | homework 5 | 10/9, 10/11 |
| 9 | Wave Optics: Superposition | Ch. 7 | homework 6 | 10/16, 10/18 |
| 10 | Wave Optics: Superposition and Polarization | Ch. 7, 8 | homework 7 | 10/23, 10/25 |
| 11 | Wave Optics: Polarization | Ch. 8 | homework 8 | 10/30, 11/1 |
| 12 | Wave Optics: Interference and Diffraction | Ch. 9, 10 | homework 9 | 11/6, 11/8 |
| 13 | Wave Optics: Interference and Diffraction | Ch. 9, 10 | Midterm 2 | 11/13, 11/15 |
| 14 | Wave Optics: Diffraction | Ch. 10 | (none due) | 11/20, no class 11/22 |
| 15 | Modern Optics | Ch. 13 (& TBD) | homework 10 | 11/27, 11/29 |
| 16 | Modern Optics | Other material TBD | homework 11 | 12/4, 12/6 |
| Finals week | Final Exam | 12/15 |
Homework
Assignments
| HW | Reading | Problems (Hecht 5th edition) | Due Date | PDFs |
| 1 | Chapter 2 | From Hecht: 2.8, 2.39, 2.49, 2.54, 2.58 | 08/30 | homework, solutions |
| 2 | Chapter 3 | From Hecht: 3.23, 3.26, 3.31, 3.41, 3.50, 3.67, 3.66(E.C.); also problems 1 and 4b on pdf | 09/13 | homework, solutions |
| 3 | Chapter 4 | From Hecht: 4.8, 4.15, 4.23, 4.39, 4.54, 4.84, 4.36 is E.C. | 09/20 | homework , solutions |
| 4 | Chapters 4,5 | From Hecht: 4.98, 5.6, 5.10, 5.12, 5.32, 5.37 is E.C.; also problem 2 on pdf; see pdf for some instructions | 09/27 | homework, solutions |
| 5 | Chapter 5 | see pdf for all 5 problems | 10/11 | homework, solutions |
| 6 | Chapter 6 | see pdf for 5 problems + extra credit | 10/18 | homework, solutions |
| 7 | Chapter 7 | see pdf for 5 problems + extra credit | 10/25 | homework, solutions |
| 8 | Chapter 7,8 | From Hecht: 7.39, 7.42, 7.51, 7.54, 7.56, 7.59, 8.2, 8.3, + E.C. (see pdf for all) | 11/1 | homework, solutions |
| 9 | Chapter 8 | see pdf for 7 problems + E.C. | 11/8 | homework, solutions |
| 10 | Chapter 9 and 10 | see pdf for 7 problems + 2 E.C. | 12/1 | homework, solutions |
| 11 | Ch 10 and special topics | see pdf for 5 problems + E.C. | 12/8 | homework, solutions |
Homework is due on Wednesdays at 12:30 pm (before class).
Late homework will be accepted for up to five days after the due date (when solutions will be posted). Late homework will drop by 10 points (of 100) for every day late. The lowest homework score will be dropped.
In-class Quizzes
In roughly half of the classes, students will take short (5 minute) open-note quizzes. These quizzes are to test understanding and guide both the students and instructor as to the comprehension of important concepts. Quiz material should be straightforward if one is up to date with the homework assignments and attending lectures. Effort is counted!
Exams
There will be 3 exams--2 midterms and a final. Exams are closed-book and closed-notes, but students may bring a single page of notes prepared ahead of time.
Midterm and final exam dates are (tentatively):
- Midterm 1: October 4, during class
- Midterm 2: November 15, during class
- Final exam: December 15, 10am-12pm
These dates are subject to change.
Grading
The contribution to the final grade is as follows:
- Homework: 20%
- Quizzes: 15%
- Midterms: 40% (20% each)
- Final: 25%
