Subject datasheet
BMETEAFBsPOPTK-00
Course description
Description of the fundamental phenomena in optics and presentation of the relevant physical - mathematical background. Light models. Fermat’s principle. Huygens’ principle. Huygens-Fresnel principle. Wave equation. Light propagation in absorbing media. Light reflection and transmission on a plane interface. Total internal reflection, evanescent wave, Brewster effect. Geometrical optics. Eikonal-equation. Paraxial optics, matrix optics. Concept of principal planes. Two- and multiple-beam interferometry, basic interferometers (Michelson, Mach-Zehnder). Resolution of diffraction gratings. Scalar diffraction, Fresnel-Kirchhoff integral formula. Fraunhofer and Fresnel approximation. Far-field diffraction of a rectangular and circular aperture. Polarization. Polarization-sensitive optical elements. Birefringence. Ordinary and extraordinary beams. Light propagation in anisotropic media. Phase-shifting and polarization rotating plates. Statistical optics. Spatial and temporary coherence. Connection of the coherence function with the visibility of the interferogram and power spectrum density of the light source. There is a practical subject related to this course entitled Optics Problem Solving. Taking the same courses simultaneously is strongly recommended.
Reading materials
- Gábor Erdei: Optics lecture notes - in English
- Erdei Gábor: Optika előadásjegyzet - magyarul
- Klein-Furtak: Optics
Subject requirements
Link to current list of requirements.
Subject matters
Subject matters of the Optics course are provided in the Microsoft Teams group of the effective semester: Optics 2025 (not existing yet)
- Tanár: Erdei Gábor