Module: Optics

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Optics
Module Code	PHY1008 (ITS: PS480L)
Faculty	Physical Sciences	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

Description

The aim of this course is to develop and extend the students knowledge of the principles of physical optics and introduce the students to contemporary optics.

Learning Outcomes

1. Describe how physical optics effects arise and the principles that underlie contemporary optics.
2. Discuss the physical processes responsible for physical optics and in contemporary optics.
3. Describe physical basis and experimental observations of physical optics
4. Derive relevant equations describing physical and contemporary optics, from basic laws and principles.
5. Solve numerical problems, from information provided, on the topics covered.

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	2 hours of asychronous lectures per week accessed as pre-recorded videos
Online activity	24	2 hours of scheduled synchronous online activities per week.
Assessment Feedback	24	Student learning support facilitated through small-group tutorials with flexible provision.
Independent Study	53	Student self directed learning
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	10036	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC1	Best Mark	N
Module Co-ordinator	Eilish McLoughlin	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Completion of online activity	Solve optics problem based on mathematical/quantitative aspects of module concepts	50%	As required
In Class Test	Solve optics problem based on mathematical/quantitative aspects of module concepts	50%	Once per semester

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

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

Waves
wave description, wave equation, plane waves.

Electromagnetic energy transport
EM waves, Poynting vector. Light in a dielectric: electron-oscillator model, refractio

Light at an interface
refraction, reflection, Fresnel equations

Polarization
polarisation states, Malus's law, birefringence, wave plates and compensators, optical activity, photoelasticity.

Interferometry
wavefront splitting interferometers, amplitude splitting interferometers, multiple beam interference, applications

Diffraction
Frauhofer diffraction, Fresnel diffraction, Kirchoffs scalar diffraction theory

Fourier optics:
Fourier transforms, optical applications

Coherence
visibility and mutual coherence.

Contemporary optics:
lasers, fibre optics, holography, nonlinear optics.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

E. Hecht: 2003, Optics 4th Edition, Pearson Education,
F.L. Pedrotti & L.M. Pedrotti: 2006, Introduction to Optics 3rd Edition, Pearson Education,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None