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Light, Lasers, Optics (PHYC30023)
Undergraduate level 3Points: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
For information about the University’s phased return to campus and in-person activity in Winter and Semester 2, please refer to the on-campus subjects page.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
Please refer to the LMS for up-to-date subject information, including assessment and participation requirements, for subjects being offered in 2020.
Overview
Availability | Semester 1 |
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Fees | Look up fees |
The subject will derive the fundamentals of modern optics and apply them to optical systems. We will begin with a matrix approach to geometric ray optics and progress to Gaussian beams with particular emphasis on laser beams and optical resonators. We will review the polarization of light using Jones matrices and Mueller calculus. Interference concepts will be developed and applied to interferometers, thin films and Fabry-Perot cavities. These concepts will be used to explain lasers, from Einstein concepts and population inversion to laser gain and longitudinal mode structure, for three-level and four-level systems, and extended to cover laser dynamics, Q-switched and mode-locked systems, and femtosecond combs.
Fibre optics and applications will include microstructured fibres, coupling, dispersion, fibre amplifiers and lasers. Non-linear optics will be introduced, including coupled-wave theory, harmonic generation, parametric amplification, Pockel and Kerr effects, four-wave mixing and phase conjugation. We will also review Raman, Mie and Brillouin scattering.
Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction theory and the angular spectrum representation of wavefields will be reviewed with emphasis on optical imaging. We will also describe modern optical microscopy from phase imaging to optical coherence tomography and super-resolution methods including STEM, STED, SLIM and TIRF.
Intended learning outcomes
On completion of this subject, a student should be able to:
- Demonstrate the ability to predict behaviour of optical instruments using geometric and wave approaches;
- Apply their understanding of optics and quantum mechanics to articulate the operational principles of lasers and the unique properties of laser light;
- Use their understanding of fundamental optics to articulate the concepts and operating principles of super-resolution optical microscopes;
- Apply qualitative and quantitative understanding to solve and analyse relevant problems in modern optics.
Generic skills
- Analyze how to solve a problem by applying fundamental laws to more complicated situations;
- Apply abstract concepts to real world situations;
- Solve relatively complicated problems using approximations;
- Participate effectively in group discussions.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
---|---|---|---|
PHYC20015 | Special Relativity and Electromagnetism | Semester 2 (On Campus - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
None
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Assessment
Due to the impact of COVID-19, assessment may differ from that published in the Handbook. Students are reminded to check the subject assessment requirements published in the subject outline on the LMS
Additional details
Problem-solving assignments, 18 hours equivalent, as three equal assignments due at the end of weeks 4, 8 and 12. Solutions for each assignment will be approximately 12 pages, (15% total - 5% each)
Computational project (e.g. excel, matlab, python) 12 hours equivalent, due at the end of week 10. Submitted code and writeup will be approximately 24 pages, (10%)
3-hour final examination during the examination period, (75%)
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Dates & times
- Semester 1
Coordinator Robert Scholten Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours Total 48 hours; 36 hours of lectures (3 x 1-hour lectures per week), 12 hours of tutorials (1-hour tutorials per week) Total time commitment 170 hours Teaching period 2 March 2020 to 7 June 2020 Last self-enrol date 13 March 2020 Census date 30 April 2020 Last date to withdraw without fail 5 June 2020 Assessment period ends 3 July 2020
Time commitment details
48 contact hours plus 122 hours of assignments, computational project, self-directed learning and final exam.
Last updated: 3 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Recommended texts and other resources
BEA Saleh and MC Teich, Fundamentals of Photonics, 2e, Wiley-Interscience
JW Goodman, Introduction to Fourier Optics, McGraw-Hill
DA Steck, Classical and Modern Optics, http://atomoptics.uoregon.edu/~dsteck/teaching/optics/
FL, LM and LS Pedrotti, Introduction to Optics, 3e, Pearson
Hecht, Optics, 4th edition, Addison-Wesley
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 3 November 2022