Module: Wave Optics

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

Module Title	Wave Optics
Module Code	PHY1051 (ITS: PS307)
Faculty	Physical Sciences	School	Science & Health
NFQ level	8	Credit Rating	5

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

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	24	Lecture
Tutorial	6	Tutorial
Independent Study	95	Study for lectures, tutorials, in-class tests and final exam
Total Workload: 125

Section Breakdown
CRN	11371	Part of Term	Semester 1
Coursework	0%	Examination Weight	0%
Grade Scale	40PASS	Pass Both Elements	Y
Resit Category	RC3	Best Mark	Y
Module Co-ordinator	Enda McGlynn	Module Teacher

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
In Class Test	CA in-class test ~ week 7 of semester – covering primarily problem-based testing of the mathematical/quantitative aspects of outcome 1 above	10%	Week 7
In Class Test	CA in-class test ~ week 12 of semester – covering primarily problem-based testing of the mathematical/quantitative aspects of outcome 2 & 3 above	10%	Week 12
Formal Examination	End-of-Semester Final Examination	80%	End-of-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

(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.

Indicative Reading List

Books:

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,

Articles:
None

Other Resources

Loop: PS307 lecture notes on Loop,