Course detail

Wave Optics

FSI-TAOAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course deals with the fundamental phenomena and concepts of wave optics. It is extended by some parts of electromagnetic optics, such as polarisation, Fresnel equations, and anisotropic media. The second part of the course is focused on interference phenomena and light coherence. The third part deals with diffraction and holography. Interference and diffraction phenomena are demonstrated and practiced in laboratories.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

7

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Entry knowledge

Basic course of physics. Calculus of functions of several variables.

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Course-unit credit is conditional on active participation in seminars and calculation of given examples.


Examination: written test and oral examination.

Attendance at seminars is obligatory and is checked by the teacher. Absence may be compensated by the agreement with the teacher.

Aims

The aim of the course is to provide students with basic ideas of interference, scalar theory of diffraction and its applications, and topics connected with wave optics and polarisation.
1. Knowledge of the theory of optical interference and diffraction phenomena.
2. Experimental erudition for the work in laboratory of optical interferometry and diffraction.
3. Ability to interpret in detail diffraction and interference phenomena.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Born, M., Wolf, E.: Principles of Optics. 7th ed. Cambridge University Press 1999.
Hecht, E.: Optics. Pearson Education, 2017.
Komrska, J.: Vlnová optika, část Difrakce světla. Akademické nakladatelství CERM, s.r.o., Brno 2004.
Malý, P.: Optika. Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Karolinum. 2013

Recommended reading

Komrska, J.: Fourierovské metody v teorii difrakce a ve strukturní analýze. Brno: CERM, 2007. 242 s.
Liška, M.: Optické sešity (texty k přednáškám). Brno, VUT 2013, 2014.
Saleh, B. E. A., Teich, C.: Základy fotoniky. Matfyzpress, Praha 1994.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme N-PMO-P Master's 1 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Maxwell's equations. Wave equation. Scalar and vector wave. Mathematical description and properties.

2. Polarization. Basic polarization states. Jones vectors and matrices. Principles of light polarization.

3. Fresnel equations. 

4. Optics of anisotropic materials. Description, propagation of light. Optical activity, birefrigence. Polarizing elements. Optical activity.

5. Basics of the theory of coherence. Function of mutual coherence, degree of coherence. Interference of two partially coherent waves.

6. Two-beam interference. Description, examples, calculation. Two-beam interferometry and its usage.

7. Multiple-beam interference. Fabry-Perot interferometer. Interference filter. Coatings. Diffraction gratings.

8. The Huygens-Fresnel principle and the diffraction integrals. The Fresnel and the Fraunhofer diffraction. The Soret plate.

9. The Fraunhofer diffraction phenomena. Fraunhofer diffraction as the Fourier transform and its realization in the laboratory.

10. The Fresnel diffraction phenomena. 

11. The Fresnel diffraction as a transfer by a linear isoplanatic system. Impulse response function, optical transfer function.

13.  Holography, holographic interferometry, and digital holographic interferometry. 

Laboratory exercise

14 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Young's experiment. Newton's fringes.
Shearing interferometry. Setting-up plane wave by reflection on plan-parallel plate. 
Visualization of the phase objects by Murty interferometer, Michelson interferometer and Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Experimental arrangement for observation and registration of Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction patterns.
Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction by circular aperture.
Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction by a double-slit.

Exercise

12 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Seminars include exaples and practical problems related to the course.