Optics Lab

Course InformationI

 

- Designator/Number: PHYS 430 (Undergraduate)

                                               PHYS 530 (Graduate) – Spring in 2014

- Course Title: Optics (Lab)

- Credit Hours: 3

- Classroom Location: FH-237 (Lecture), FW-219 (Lab)

- Office Hours: 10 – 11 am, Tuesday and Thursday

- Course Website: http://alcolpeter.wix.com/niuopticslab

 

Course Description

 

- The Optics Lab Course is for undergraduate and graduate students in spring semester. The course content covers a wide scope of topics from historical overview of classical optics to contemporary subjects in modern optics. The lecture begins with review of basic E&M theory and electrodynamics such as Maxwell equations and plane wave equations. It will go over fundamental concepts of wave dynamics to complex optical phenomena in nature, including Lorentz oscillator model, reflection/refraction at a dielectric interface, Fabry-Perot, multilayer films, polarization, Jones calculus, Fraunhofer diffraction, single/double/multi slit diffraction, and so on.

 

Course Objective

 

This course will change the way you look at the world.  Literally.

We’ll talk about things you see every day but generally don’t question.

- Why do windows act like mirrors at night?

- Does light really always travel in a straight line?

- What’s the difference between a laser and a light bulb?

- What’s going on in a rainbow?

- Why is the sky blue?

- Why is an oily film on a puddle so colorful?

 -What’s all this business about light slowing down and speeding up?

 

 

After completing this course, you will be able to:

1.Understand natural phenomena and science/technology with relevant E&M & Optics Theories

2.Get deep knowledge on classical and modern optics

3.Acquire skills to handle optical apparatus and components

4.Experience historically well known optics experiments with modern test equipment

5.Improve a creativity by conceiving new ideas in lab experiments