EE/APh 120 - Physical Optics

This course aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to optical phenomena, focusing on the central role of wave propagation. The course is divided into two parts. In the first part, we review geometrical optics before transitioning to the scalar theory of optical waves. Using linear system analysis and Fourier transforms, we study a range of topics, including diffraction, optical beams, resonators, and imaging systems. In the second part of the course, we explore the concepts of coherence and polarization and apply them to the study of a broader range of phenomena and systems where a full electromagnetic field description is necessary. This includes topics such as photonic crystals, meta-surfaces, and nonlinear optical processes.