The objective of this class is to give students a foundation in classical optics. Topics studied to cover the phenomena of physical optics, reflection, refraction, interference, diffraction, and polarization interpreted in terms of the wave theory of light. Selected topics in contemporary optics, such as fiber optics, lasers, and nonlinear optics will be covered.

Course Requirements:

Grading will be based on weekly problem sets, a mid-term and final, with the problem sets having the largest weight.

Intended Audience:

This course is primarily meant for upper level physics majors, however, it can also be useful for undergraduates in related fields and graduate students who are doing optics related research in fields that do not typically cover optics in their curriculum such as chemistry and biology.

Class Format:

The course will consist of lectures. Reading will be assigned prior to each lecture, together with a quick preparatory exercise that will be discussed during the lecture. There will also be a "real-world" optics problem assigned before each lecture and discussed during class.