With an emphasis on the visual and tangible nature of light and using the microscope as the focus of our efforts, this course presents an introduction to optics. Course topics include both geometric optics (ray tracing, lens design, aberrations, apertures and stops, etc.) and physical optics (polarization, interference, diffraction, wave guides, resolution etc.). The course is presented in a studio format to maximize the connection between the theory learned in class and the construction of optical systems.
PHYS 202