Course content

The student will get an introduction to the discipline of optics and its role in the modern society.

The student shall master the geometrical approximation, including Guass thin lens formula, Fermat's and Huygen's principles, and the paraxial matrix formalism for refractive and reflective surfaces. The student will be able to analyze typical optical imaging systems, with emphasis on the human eye, the camera, the telescope and the microscope.

The wave optics part of the course will give the student a basic knowledge within interferometry, polarization, diffraction and resolution, and the basics of coherent and non-coherent light sources. The student shall become able to analyze and calculate interference between plane waves and spherical waves, reflection and transmission of plane waves, and optical wave guiding within thin plates and optical fibers. The student shall understand how the polarization of light changes at reflection and transmission at interfaces

The student shall know the conditions for near and far-field diffraction and be able to calculate the far-field diffraction from gratings and simple aperture functions.

Learning outcome

The student will get an introduction to the discipline of optics and its role in the modern society. The student shall master the geometrical approximation, including Guass thin lens formula, Fermat's and Huygen's principles, and the paraxial matrix formalism for refractive and reflective surfaces. The student will be able to analyze typical optical imaging systems, with emphasis on the human eye, the camera, the telescope and the microscope. The wave optics part of the course will give the student a basic knowledge within interferometry, polarization, diffraction, and the basics of coherent and non-coherent light sources. The student shall become able to analyze and calculate interference between plane waves and spherical waves, reflection and transmission of plane waves, and optical wave guiding within thin plates and optical fibers. The student shall understand how the polarization of light changes at reflection and transmission at interfaces The student shall know the conditions for near and far-field diffraction and be able to calculate the far-field diffraction from gratings and simple aperture functions. The student shall have knowledge about and be able to explain concepts such as numerical aperture, F-number, spatial resolution and image quality for optical systems that originates from diffraction.

Learning methods and activities

Lectures (digital on distance), exercises, compulsory lab-work and assignments. The course is taught in English. Expected workload is 225 hours.

Compulsory assignments

• Laboratory exercises

Recommended previous knowledge

Basic physics including electromagnetism.

Course materials

Book: Pedrotti 'Introduction to Optics' - 3rd ed. (Pearson; 2007).

Credit reductions