Optics and Waves

  1. Physical Optics
    1. Wave Nature of Light
      1. Historical Development
        1. Wave-Particle Duality
          1. Electromagnetic Wave Properties
          2. Huygens' Principle
            1. Wavefront Concept
              1. Spherical Wavefronts
                1. Plane Wavefronts
                  1. Cylindrical Wavefronts
                  2. Secondary Wavelets
                    1. Wavefront Construction
                      1. Applications
                        1. Reflection Explanation
                          1. Refraction Explanation
                            1. Diffraction Explanation
                          2. Interference of Light
                            1. Coherence Requirements
                              1. Temporal Coherence
                                1. Coherence Time
                                  1. Coherence Length
                                  2. Spatial Coherence
                                    1. Coherence Area
                                      1. Source Size Effects
                                    2. Two-Source Interference
                                      1. Young's Double-Slit Experiment
                                        1. Experimental Setup
                                          1. Path Difference Analysis
                                            1. Fringe Formation
                                              1. Fringe Spacing
                                                1. Intensity Distribution
                                                2. Lloyd's Mirror
                                                  1. Fresnel's Double Mirror
                                                  2. Interference in Thin Films
                                                    1. Optical Path Difference
                                                      1. Phase Changes on Reflection
                                                        1. Constructive and Destructive Conditions
                                                          1. Newton's Rings
                                                            1. Formation Mechanism
                                                              1. Ring Spacing
                                                              2. Soap Films and Oil Slicks
                                                                1. Anti-Reflective Coatings
                                                                  1. High-Reflectivity Coatings
                                                                  2. Multiple-Beam Interference
                                                                    1. Fabry-Perot Interferometer
                                                                      1. Finesse and Resolution
                                                                    2. Diffraction of Light
                                                                      1. Fresnel vs Fraunhofer Diffraction
                                                                        1. Single-Slit Diffraction
                                                                          1. Fraunhofer Diffraction Pattern
                                                                            1. Intensity Distribution
                                                                              1. Minima Conditions
                                                                                1. Central Maximum Width
                                                                                  1. Secondary Maxima
                                                                                  2. Circular Aperture Diffraction
                                                                                    1. Airy Disk Pattern
                                                                                      1. Angular Resolution
                                                                                        1. Rayleigh Criterion
                                                                                        2. Resolution of Optical Instruments
                                                                                          1. Telescope Resolution
                                                                                            1. Microscope Resolution
                                                                                              1. Camera Resolution
                                                                                              2. Diffraction Gratings
                                                                                                1. Transmission Gratings
                                                                                                  1. Reflection Gratings
                                                                                                    1. Grating Equation
                                                                                                      1. Principal Maxima
                                                                                                        1. Secondary Maxima
                                                                                                          1. Missing Orders
                                                                                                            1. Spectral Resolution
                                                                                                              1. Free Spectral Range
                                                                                                                1. Blazed Gratings
                                                                                                                2. Applications of Diffraction
                                                                                                                  1. Spectroscopy
                                                                                                                    1. X-ray Crystallography
                                                                                                                      1. Holographic Gratings
                                                                                                                    2. Polarization of Light
                                                                                                                      1. Polarization States
                                                                                                                        1. Linear Polarization
                                                                                                                          1. Circular Polarization
                                                                                                                            1. Elliptical Polarization
                                                                                                                              1. Unpolarized Light
                                                                                                                              2. Polarization by Transmission
                                                                                                                                1. Polaroid Filters
                                                                                                                                  1. Malus's Law
                                                                                                                                    1. Crossed Polarizers
                                                                                                                                    2. Polarization by Reflection
                                                                                                                                      1. Brewster's Angle
                                                                                                                                        1. Polarization Degree
                                                                                                                                        2. Polarization by Scattering
                                                                                                                                          1. Rayleigh Scattering
                                                                                                                                            1. Sky Polarization
                                                                                                                                              1. Atmospheric Effects
                                                                                                                                              2. Polarization by Double Refraction
                                                                                                                                                1. Birefringent Materials
                                                                                                                                                  1. Ordinary and Extraordinary Rays
                                                                                                                                                    1. Calcite Crystals
                                                                                                                                                      1. Wave Plates
                                                                                                                                                        1. Quarter-Wave Plates
                                                                                                                                                          1. Half-Wave Plates
                                                                                                                                                        2. Optical Activity
                                                                                                                                                          1. Rotation of Polarization
                                                                                                                                                            1. Chiral Molecules
                                                                                                                                                              1. Saccharimetry
                                                                                                                                                              2. Applications of Polarization
                                                                                                                                                                1. LCD Displays
                                                                                                                                                                  1. Polarizing Sunglasses
                                                                                                                                                                    1. Stress Analysis
                                                                                                                                                                      1. 3D Movies

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                                                                                                                                                                  6. Geometrical Optics

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                                                                                                                                                                  8. Modern Optics and Advanced Topics