Physics 107

Course Syllabus for Ph 107, Classical and Laser Optics, Spring 2025

 A full description of the course and policies can be found on the Canvas page. 

Instructors

Nick Hutzler and Rana Adhikari

Prerequisites

Ph 2ab, 12ab, or instructor’s permission.

The course will assume basic knowledge of electricity and magnetism as well as waves.

 Learning Outcomes

The main goal is to gain intuitive and mathematical understanding into how light and optics are used for scientific research and in everyday life.  Students will:

• Apply physical and mathematical reasoning to predict the behavior of light, both in free space and when interacting with media.

• Explain how the study of optics arises from electromagnetic theory.

• Use the action of basic optical elements such as lenses, mirrors, and waveplates, and to design and understand complex optical systems.

• Be able to apply both geometrical and wave optics concepts, while understanding the advantages and weaknesses of each approach.

Approximate course outline

Because this is a new course, the outline might change based on the realized pace, as well as student interests and feedback.  Please give plenty of feedback!

• Electromagnetic Waves – Review of Maxwell’s Equations, electromagnetic waves in media, and boundary conditions

• Ray Optics – The physical and mathematical interpretation of light rays, reflection and refraction, matrix description of light propagation in simple and complex systems, image formation.

• Modes and Waveguides – Optical modes, Gaussian optics, resonators and cavities, fiber optics.

• Wave Optics – Wave equations, interference, diffraction, coherence, Fourier optics, polarization.

• Laser Tools – A brief introduction to some concepts relevant to tools used in laser labs.  Nonlinear optics, quasi-phase-matching, acousto-optical and electro-optical modulation

Suggested books

The course will mostly use typed lecture notes which will be distributed to the class members.

There are no required books, but here are some to which I will refer often and should be on reserve in the library.  Readings from books will be posted online in addition to the books being available electronically through the library.  The “most important” books are listed below, in approximate order of how often we will be using them.

• Steck, Classical and Modern Optics.  A great book that covers most of the material and in roughly the same order.  Available for free on Prof. Steck’s website, http://steck.us

• Brooker, Modern and Classical Optics.  Very clear and concise overview, though it doesn’t go into much depth on many topics.

• Siegman, Lasers.  The focus is, not surprisingly, on lasers, but it has very clear and practical discussions of many relevant topics.  

• Griffiths, Electrodynamics.  Very clear and thorough background of E&M, including things like reflection and refraction of plane waves.

• Yariv and Yeh, Photonics.  This books is a good overview at about the right depth and covering similar topics with a similar overall approach.

• SPIE, Fundamentals of Photonics.  A good overview, available for free online.

• Born and Wolf, Principles of Optics.  This book is “The Jackson” for optics.  Tremendous depth, detail, and rigor, though not always the best way to be introduced to a particular subject.

• Peatross and Ware, Physics of Light and Optics.  A good and basic overview, with lots of review of basic E&M.  Available for free online.

• Thorne and Blandford, Modern Classical Physics.  Part III focuses on optics and was previously the basis for a component of Ph 136.  This book is written at a very high level and offers deep and profound discussions.  It is highly recommended for those with an inclination toward theory.

Lectures    

Lectures are MWF, 11 am – 12 pm, Lauritsen 269

Lectures will not follow a single textbook, but suggested readings will be given throughout the course.  See below for a list of suggested books.

Grade

The grade is determined by problem sets and short in-class quizzes.

Quizzes

There will be brief, in-class quizzes at the end of most classes.   The intention is to receive real-time assessment and feedback about course concepts, and provide an opportunity for students to increase their grade (see Grades policy above.)

The quizzes will be one or two questions requiring little to no calculation and emphasizing concepts.  The quizzes will be graded leniently, as they are intended to be a feedback tool, with at least 50% partial credit awarded for a reasonable attempted answer.

Problem sets

There will be eight homework sets total, with one due each week, apart from the first and last weeks. 

Each set will be weighted equally when computing grades.

Collaboration is strongly encouraged; see below for details.  

Collaboration policy

Short version: Open everything.  All work must be your own, and you must indicate what/whom you consulted.  

Longer version: You are free to consult any textbooks, online resources, people, etc.  However, everything submitted must be your own work that you understand and show, and you must indicate any resources/people/etc. that you consulted.  Include printouts of any computer code that you used.  You may not consult solution sets from previous versions of the course.

Ditch Day

Ditch Day is tomorrow.

Honor Code

“No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community” applies to all aspects of this course.

Inclusion and Accessibility

Everyone is welcome in this class and at Caltech, and everyone is responsible for creating a welcoming environment.  Please contact us with any concerns, or if any accommodations are needed.