Optics 1

A.Y. 2024/2025
6
Max ECTS
42
Overall hours
SSD
FIS/03
Language
Italian
Learning objectives
The course aim is to provide students with theoretical skills and application information of Classic Optics.
The educational objectives are:
that the student follows some of the classical derivations of the laws of optics, starting from first principles.
That the student realizes the connection of optics with the theories of Electromagnetism, Relativity and
Quantum Mechanics.
That the student knows, both from a phenomenological point of view and from a theoretical point of view, the main optical phenomena.
That the student has knowledge and appreciates the applicative potential of the optics.
Expected learning outcomes
The student at the end of the course may have acquired the following skills:
1. place the optical phenomena within the framework of the more general electromagnetic phenomena;
2. know the laws of reflection and refraction as an example of application of the conditions to the
contour of electromagnetic fields and knowing their most common applications;
4. know the Drude-Lorentz model and analyze the dispersion of a dielectric medium;
5. recognize some of the most common phenomena related to dispersion and absorption;
6. know the problem of the speed of light, its experimental bases and its relativist treatment;
7. know the various types of interferometers and their applications in radiation diagnostics;
8. know the details of the diffraction theory and its most important applications;
10. know the problem and the laws of coherence with related applications.
Single course

This course can be attended as a single course.

Course syllabus and organization

Single session

Lesson period
Second semester
Course syllabus
History of Optics
Generalities on Waves
Maxwell equations. Source terms. Main radiation mechanisms. Blackbody, luminescence.
Wave equation. Electromagnetic spectrum.
Boundary conditions.
Reflection and refraction.
Incidence on boundary surface between two dielectric media, Reflection from mirrors
and albedo.
Snell-Descarted formulas. Fresnel formulas. Examples: concert hologram, Pepper ghost.
Polarization angle.
Total reflection. Examples and applications.
Dispersion
Dispersion in prismas. Cauchy and Sellmayer formulas. Linear theory of dispersion and
dielectric absorption.
Drude-Lorentz model. Colour for absorption and reflection. Examples and applications.
Rainbow, halos.
Geometrical Optics.
Iconal eqaution. Ray equations. Propagations in dishomogeneos media, mirage.
Step index and gradued index optical fiber. Matrix treatment. Lens, mirrors, complex
optical systems. Examples.
Polarization
Different polarization types. Birifrangence. Polarizers. Beam splitters. Helicity. Angular
momentum. 3D cinema.
Interference
Discussion. Interferometers (Young, Michelson, Fabry-Perrot) . Thin sheet interference.
Newton rings, wavelength measurement. Optical cavities.
Speed of light
Phase and group velocity. Measurement of c. Prerelativistic experiments. Michelson
and Morley experiment. Special relativity. Doppler effect, Thomson scattering.
Superluminality.
Diffraction
Scalr theory of Kirchhoff, diffraction integral. Linear approximation, Fraunhofer theory.
Circular and rectangular aperture. Fourier analysis, Arrey theorem. Double slit. Fresnel
transformation, parabolical approximation. Image formation in coherent light.
Applications: spatial filter, image elaboration, phase contrast microscopy. Gaussian
beams. Holography. Speckles.
Coherence and statistical optics
Tempral and spatial coehrence
Non linear optics
Light sources.
Prerequisites for admission
Nothing.
Teaching methods
Frontal lessons with simple experiments
Teaching Resources
E. Hetch: Optics
Assessment methods and Criteria
Oral examination.
Ability of discussing the main phenomena and applications.
FIS/03 - PHYSICS OF MATTER - University credits: 6
Lessons: 42 hours