Course details

Physical Optics

FYO Acad. year 2022/2023 Summer semester 5 credits

Current academic year

Electromagnetic waves and light. Fresnel's equations. Reflection at dielectric and metallic surfaces, polarization. Coherence, interference from thin films. Diffraction by 2D and 3D structures. Holography, holography code, reconstruction of optic field. Transmission of light through media. Dispersion, absorption. Scattering. Thermal radiation. Elements of image-forming systems. Analytical ray tracing. Matrix concept. Errors in image forming. Quantum mechanical principles of radiation. Spectra of atoms and molecules. Physical statistics. Photon. Stimulated and spontaneous emission. Lasers. The basis of luminiscence. Radioactive radiation.

Guarantor

Course coordinator

Language of instruction

Czech, English

Completion

Examination (written)

Time span

  • 26 hrs lectures
  • 13 hrs exercises
  • 13 hrs projects

Assessment points

  • 60 pts final exam
  • 10 pts mid-term test
  • 30 pts projects

Department

Subject specific learning outcomes and competences

The students will learn the basic principles of the physical optics needed for computer graphics. They will extend their general knowledge of optics and get acquainted with the modern optics. They will also learn how to apply the gathered knowledge on real tasks. Finally, they will get acquainted with further physics principles important for computer graphics.

Learning objectives

To learn the basic principles of the physical optics needed for computer graphics. Extend the general knowledge of optics and get acquainted with the modern optics. To learn how to apply the gathered knowledge on real tasks. To get acquainted with further physics principles important for computer graphics.

Why is the course taught

The course aims to introduce basic principles of optics with emphasis on the practical side, thus, the student will avoid the fundamental errors in capturing visual information, its processing, its interpretation and its modeling in terms of computer graphics.

Prerequisite knowledge and skills

Basic knowledge of physics.

Study literature

  • Schroeder, G.: Technická optika, SNTL, Praha, ČR, 1981
  • Hecht, E., Zajac, A.: Optics, Addison-Wesley, Reading, UK, 1977, ISBN 0-201-02835-2
  • Saleh, B. E. A, Teich, M. C.: Fundamentals of Photonics, Wiley 2007, USA, 978-0-471-35832-9

Syllabus of lectures

  1. Electromagnetic waves and light.
  2. Light at the interface of two media, Fresnel's equations. Reflection at dielectric and metallic surfaces, linear and elliptical polarization. Polarizers.
  3. Coherence. Interference from thin films. Interference filters. The Fabry-Perot interferometer.
  4. Diffraction by edges, slits, gratings and 2D and 3D structures. Holography.
  5. Transmission of light through media. Dispersion, spectrometers, rainbow. Absorption. Scattering.
  6. Thermal radiation. Energy and light quantities. Receptors, human eye. Spectral sensitivity of receptors. Filters and color dividers.
  7. Elements of image-forming systems. Mirrors, prisms, lenses, the microscope, the telescopes. The Fermat principle.
  8. Analytical ray tracing. Matrix concept. Aperture and field stops. Magnification, resolving power. Errors in image forming. Notes on fiber optics.
  9. The quantum mechanical concept of radiation. The wave function, the Schroedinger equation, the uncertainty principle. The tunnel effect.
  10. Energy levels, the Pauli exclusion principle, energy bands. Spectra of atoms and molecules. Selection rules.
  11. Physical statistics. Photon. Stimulated and spontaneous emission. Inversion population. Lasers.
  12. The basics of luminiscence, phosphors, fluorescence, phosphorescence.
  13. Radioactive radiation.

Syllabus - others, projects and individual work of students

  • Individually assigned projects; it is expected that the "programming part" of the assignment will be consulted and evaluated in other course (more computer science oriented).

Progress assessment

  • Mid-term exam - up to 10 points
  • Project - up to 30 points
  • Written exam - up to 60 points

Course inclusion in study plans

Back to top