F8690 Basic optical experiments and their application in the teaching of optics

Faculty of Science
Spring 2009
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
prof. RNDr. Ivan Ohlídal, DrSc. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
doc. RNDr. Aleš Lacina, CSc.
Department of Plasma Physics and Technology – Physics Section – Faculty of Science
Contact Person: prof. RNDr. Ivan Ohlídal, DrSc.
Timetable
Mon 8:00–8:50 F3,03015
Prerequisites
It is necessary to pass out the subject Vibrations, waves, optics.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
At educating in optics it is possible to perform many interesting experiments enabling students to understand individual fields of this physical branch. In this course basic experiments belonging to the main regions of optics are presented. A detailed theoretical explanation is carried out for each experiment demonstrated. The main aims of this course consist in explaining the principles and experimental demonstrations of the following optical effects:
1) interaction of light with the boundaries formed by planes (reflection of light from the boundary between two non-absorbing materials, demonstration of the Brewster angle)
2) reflection of light from the boundary between one non-absorbing material and one absorbing material, impossibility of polarization of light using the reflection from this boundary
3) two-beam interference of light waves (Young experiment, Fresnel two-prism, Fresnel mirrors)
4) multiple-beam interference of light waves (interference on thin films, monochromatic interference filters in transmitted light, Fabry-Perot interferometer)
5) diffraction of light (diffraction on pinholes and the other objects exhibiting simple forms, diffraction of light on various types of gratings)
6) practical use of an interaction of light with optically anisotropic materials (prisms for polarization of light and compensators), interference in polarized light (presentation of this phenomena at transmitting light by uni-axial plates placed between two polarizers).
After passing this course students will be able to explain the important optical effects using their experimental presentations. This statement is true for both the university a secondary school studies.
Syllabus
  • 1) Theoretical explanation of an interaction of light with the planar boundaries placed between two isotropic homogeneous media
  • 2) Experimental demonstration of polarization of light by reflection from the planar boundary between two non-absorbing media when the Brewster incidence angle is selected, demonstration of the impossibility of this polarization effect at reflecting light from the planar boundary between non-absorbing medium and absorbing medium
  • 3) Theoretical explanation of two-beam interference of light
  • 4) Experimental demonstration of the Young experiment, Fresnel two-prism and Fresnel mirrors
  • 5) Theoretical explanation of multiple-beam interference of light
  • 6) Experimental demonstration of interference of light on thin films, monochromatic Fabry-Perot interference filters in transmitted light and Fabry-Perot interferometer
  • 7) Theoretical explanation of diffraction of light using the simplest mathematical approach based on the Huygens principle
  • 8) Experimental demonstration of diffraction on pinholes and the other objects with simple forms and various gratings)
  • 9) Theoretical explanation of practical use of interaction of light with optically anisotropic materials
  • 10) Experimental demonstration of influence of prisms (polarizers) and compensators on polarization states of light waves, demonstration of interference of polarized light at transmitting through plates of uniaxial materials placed between two polarizers.
Literature
  • J. Kuběna, Úvod do optiky, Přírodovědecká fakulta Masarykovy univerzity, Brno, 1994
  • M. V. Klein, Optics, John Wiley and Sons, New York,, 1970
Teaching methods
Course
Assessment methods
It is finished by a colloquium.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught annually.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2008 - for the purpose of the accreditation, Spring 2011 - only for the accreditation, Spring 2000, Spring 2001, Spring 2002, Spring 2003, Spring 2005, Spring 2006, Spring 2007, Spring 2008, Spring 2010, Spring 2011, Spring 2012, spring 2012 - acreditation, Spring 2013, Spring 2014, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022, Spring 2023, Spring 2024, Spring 2025.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2009, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/sci/spring2009/F8690