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Module Specifications.

Current Academic Year 2024 - 2025

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Date posted: September 2024

Module Title Wave Optics
Module Code PS307 (ITS) / PHY1051 (Banner)
Faculty Science & Health School Physical Sciences
Module Co-ordinatorJennifer Gaughran
Module Teachers-
NFQ level 8 Credit Rating 5
Pre-requisite Not Available
Co-requisite Not Available
Compatibles Not Available
Incompatibles Not Available
Repeat examination
Resit of formal examination
Description

This course is designed to: (i) To provide an appreciation of the fundamental concepts of wave optics. (ii) To illustrate the relevance of these concepts in modern applications of optics (iii) To develop numerical problem solving skills in wave optics The course is predominantly knowledge-based. The main learning activities are attending lectures and tutorials and the related learning activity of solving numerical and other problems related to the topics covered. Students are expected to attend lectures and tutorials and to prepare for both by appropriate study (including the use of on-line moodle resources provided and textbooks) and thus be able to engage fully in discussions and other interactions in lectures and tutorials. Students are further expected to prepare for in-class tests and end of module examinations via study and, as needed, discussion with the lecturer.

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain the essential physical aspects of the phenomena of wave polarization, interference, diffraction and lasers and optical cavities both qualitatively and mathematically, including the generation and manipulation of particular polarizations, interference by division of wavefront and amplitude, diffraction from various simple aperture configurations and lasing conditions
2. Discuss, both qualitatively and mathematically, optical information storage, and image formation, and their linkages to other basic concepts in optics
3. Describe, both qualitatively and mathematically, examples of applications of interference, spatial filtering, lasers and optical cavities and practical holographic systems



Workload Full-time hours per semester
Type Hours Description
Lecture24Lecture
Tutorial6Tutorial
Independent Study95Study for lectures, tutorials, in-class tests and final exam
Total Workload: 125

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

(i) Polarisation
Definition of states of Polarisation; Birefringence; Dichroism; Polarisers and Retarders; Polarisation by Reflection and Scattering; Induced Birefringence (Kerr Cell).

(ii) Interference
Superposition and Two-beam Interference; Concept of Coherence; Interferometers (amplitude and wavefront-splitting); Michelson Interferometer and Applications; Multiple-beam Interference and Fabry-Perot Interferometer; AR-coatings, Interference Filters.

(iii) Diffraction:
Fraunhofer Diffraction (single, double, multiple slit); Circular Aperture and Spatial Resolving Power; Diffraction Gratings; Basic Fresnel Diffraction (Straight Edge, Slit & Zone Plate).

(iv) Lasers and Optical Cavities
Absorption and Emission, Einstein Coefficients, Beer-Lambert Law, Inversion, Gain, Longitudinal Cavity Modes, Laser Action, Transverse Modes

(v) Fourier Optics
Spatial Frequency, Periodic and Non-Periodic Spatial Waves (Fourier series and Fourier transforms in optics), Point Spread and Modulation Transfer Functions (Principles & Applications), Convolution and De-Convolution, Spatial Filtering and Phase Contrast Techniques.

Learning activities
Students are expected to attend lectures and tutorials and to prepare for both by appropriate study (including the use of on-line moodle resources provided and textbooks) and thus be able to engage fully in discussions and other interactions in lectures and tutorials. Students are further expected to prepare for in-class tests and end of module examinations via study and, as needed, discussion with the lecturer.

Assessment Breakdown
Continuous Assessment20% Examination Weight80%
Course Work Breakdown
TypeDescription% of totalAssessment Date
In Class TestCA in-class test ~ week 7 of semester – covering primarily problem-based testing of the mathematical/quantitative aspects of outcome 1 above10%Week 7
In Class TestCA in-class test ~ week 12 of semester – covering primarily problem-based testing of the mathematical/quantitative aspects of outcome 2 & 3 above10%Week 12
Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories:
Resit category 1: A resit is available for both* components of the module.
Resit category 2: No resit is available for a 100% continuous assessment module.
Resit category 3: No resit is available for the continuous assessment component where there is a continuous assessment and examination element.
* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a Continuous Assessment/Examination split; where the module is 100% continuous assessment, there will also be a resit of the assessment
This module is category 3
Indicative Reading List

  • Hecht: 1998, Optics, 2 or more recent, All covered in syllabus, Addison Wesley,
  • Fowles: 1989, Introduction to Modern Optics, Reprint, All covered in syllabus, Dover Publications,
Other Resources

0, Loop, 0, PS307 lecture notes on Loop,

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