Course detail

Physical Optics (in English)

FIT-FYOeAcad. year: 2025/2026

Electromagnetic waves and light. Fresnel's equations. Reflection at dielectric and metallic surfaces, polarization. Coherence, interference from thin films. Diffraction by 2D and 3D structures. Holography, holography code, reconstruction of optic field. Transmission of light through media. Dispersion, absorption. Scattering. Thermal radiation. Elements of image-forming systems. Analytical ray tracing. Matrix concept. Errors in image forming. Quantum mechanical principles of radiation. Spectra of atoms and molecules. Physical statistics. Photon. Stimulated and spontaneous emission. Lasers. The basis of luminiscence. Radioactive radiation. 

Language of instruction

English

Number of ECTS credits

5

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Guarantor

doc. Ing. Petr Sedlák, Ph.D.

Department

Department of Physics (UFYZ)

Entry knowledge

Fundamentals of physics at secondary school level 

 

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

    • Mid-term exam - up to 10 points
    • Project - up to 30 points
    • Written exam - up to 60 points
 

Aims

To learn the basic principles of the physical optics needed for computer graphics. Extend the general knowledge of optics and get acquainted with the modern optics. To learn how to apply the gathered knowledge on real tasks. To get acquainted with further physics principles important for computer graphics.
The students will learn the basic principles of the physical optics needed for computer graphics. They will extend their general knowledge of optics and get acquainted with the modern optics. They will also learn how to apply the gathered knowledge on real tasks. Finally, they will get acquainted with further physics principles important for computer graphics. 

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Halliday, D., Resnick, R., Walker, J.: Fundamentals of Physics, Willey, New York, USA, 1997, ISBN 0-471-10559-7
Hecht, E., Zajac, A.: Optics, Addison-Wesley, Reading, UK, 1977, ISBN 0-201-02835-2
Malý, P.: Optika (2ed), Karolinum, 2013, ISBN 978-80-246-2246-0
Saleh, B. E. A, Teich, M. C.: Fundamentals of Photonics, Wiley 2007, USA, 978-0-471-35832-9

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme MIT-EN Master's 0 year of study, summer semester, elective

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Sedlák, Ph.D.

Syllabus

    1. Electromagnetic waves and light.
    2. Light at the interface of two media, Fresnel's equations. Reflection at dielectric and metallic surfaces, linear and elliptical polarization. Polarizers.
    3. Coherence. Interference from thin films. Interference filters. The Fabry-Perot interferometer.
    4. Diffraction by edges, slits, gratings and 2D and 3D structures. Holography.
    5. Transmission of light through media. Dispersion, spectrometers, rainbow. Absorption. Scattering.
    6. Thermal radiation. Energy and light quantities. Receptors, human eye. Spectral sensitivity of receptors. Filters and color dividers.
    7. Elements of image-forming systems. Mirrors, prisms, lenses, the microscope, the telescopes. The Fermat principle.
    8. Analytical ray tracing. Matrix concept. Aperture and field stops. Magnification, resolving power. Errors in image forming. Notes on fiber optics.
    9. The quantum mechanical concept of radiation. The wave function, the Schroedinger equation, the uncertainty principle. The tunnel effect.
    10. Energy levels, the Pauli exclusion principle, energy bands. Spectra of atoms and molecules. Selection rules.
    11. Physical statistics. Photon. Stimulated and spontaneous emission. Inversion population. Lasers.
    12. The basics of luminiscence, phosphors, fluorescence, phosphorescence.
    13. Radioactive radiation.
 

Seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Sedlák, Ph.D.

Syllabus

  1. Electromagnetic waves and light.
  2. Light at the interface of two media, Fresnel's equations. Reflection at dielectric and metallic surfaces, linear and elliptical polarization. Polarizers.
  3. Coherence. Interference from thin films. Interference filters. The Fabry-Perot interferometer.
  4. Diffraction by edges, slits, gratings and 2D and 3D structures. Holography.
  5. Transmission of light through media. Dispersion, spectrometers, rainbow. Absorption. Scattering.
  6. Thermal radiation. Energy and light quantities. Receptors, human eye. Spectral sensitivity of receptors. Filters and color dividers.
  7. Elements of image-forming systems. Mirrors, prisms, lenses, the microscope, the telescopes. The Fermat principle.
  8. Analytical ray tracing. Matrix concept. Aperture and field stops. Magnification, resolving power. Errors in image forming. Notes on fiber optics.
  9. The quantum mechanical concept of radiation. The wave function, the Schroedinger equation, the uncertainty principle. The tunnel effect.
  10. Energy levels, the Pauli exclusion principle, energy bands. Spectra of atoms and molecules. Selection rules.
  11. Physical statistics. Photon. Stimulated and spontaneous emission. Inversion population. Lasers.
  12. The basics of luminiscence, phosphors, fluorescence, phosphorescence.
  13. Radioactive radiation.
  

Project

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

doc. Ing. Petr Sedlák, Ph.D.

Syllabus

Individually assigned projects; it is expected that the "programming part" of the assignment will be consulted and evaluated in other course (more computer science oriented).