Institute of Optics

Courses of Instruction

Definitive course listings are published before each semester. Courses listed here carry 4 credit hours unless otherwise noted. Following are some of the recent or planned offerings.

Please Note: Course descriptions are currently in the process of being updated. Some courses may not have information available at this time.

  • OPT 101 INTRO TO OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    None.
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    A discussion of the properties of light: refraction, imaging, diffraction, interference, the development of the microscope, telescope, laser, the Internet, information storage and display, and medical applications. Demonstrations.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 197 GEOMETRICAL OPTICS LAB
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Students examine, analyze, measure, dismantle and reverse-engineer a variety of new and used optical tools, apparatus and systems. Emphasis on conceptual understanding and intuitive problem-solving.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 198 PHYSICAL OPTICS LAB
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 197
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    This lab complements OPT 261. Experiments cover interference and diffraction phenomena, introduction to optical information processing and electronic imaging systems with emphasis on error analysis.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 199 INSTRUMENTATION LAB
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 241, OPT 261
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    This laboratory complements OPT 242. Students experience further optical phenomena in the lab setting to better understand equipment that provides measurement and key optical data.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 211 COMPUTATIONAL METHODS IN OPT
    Prerequisites:
    MTH 162 and current enrollment in MTH 164
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Teaches techniques of transforming continuous problems to discrete mathematical models. Students learn computational methods for solving problems in optics using high level software. Includes labs.
    Offered:
  • OPT 223 QUANTUM THEORY OF OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    PHY 123 or 143, MTH 281 may be taken concurrently
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Intro to quantum mechanics in the context of modern optics and optical technology. Wave mechanics as applied to electrons in crystals and in quantum wells and the optical properties of materials. Semiconductor junctions in photodetectors and photoemitters.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 224 FUNDAMENTALS OF LASERS
    Prerequisites:
    Knowledge of simple quantum mechanics and scalar diffraction theory is assumed. OPT 241 and OPT 261, MTH 163 is recommended.
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Fundamentals and applications of laser systems, including optical amplification, cavity design, beam propagation and modulation.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 226 OPTOELECTRONICS I:DEVICES
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 261, OPT 262
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Light propagation in restricted geometries including waveguides and optical fibers. Dispersion and loss in linear and nonlinear pulse propagation. Coupling between passive and between active and passive elements.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 232 OPTO-MECHANICS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    ME 232 (P), ME 432, OPT 232, OPT 432, TEO 432, TME 432
    Description:
    System performance of glass with metal or plastic, kinematic design, material limitations. Applications to optical metrology, alignment, geometry 2D and 3D. This course is an OPT elective.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 241 GEOMETRICAL OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    MTH 161, MTH 162, PHY 121
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Optical instruments and their uses. First-order Gaussian optics and thin-lens system layout. Photometric theory applied to optical systems. The eye, magnifier, microscope, matrix optics, nature of Seidel aberrations.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 242 ABERRATIONS, INTRFER METRS
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 241, OPT 261
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Geometrical and diffraction theory of image formation. Measurement of first-order properties. Seidel aberrations. Tests of aberrated systems. Seidel contribution formulae and more.
    Offered:
  • OPT 243 OPT FABRICATION & TESTING
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 242
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Fabrication of a plane parallel plate, lens, or prism from a variety of optical glasses: controlled loose abrassive grinding pitch polishing skills; optical metrology, including interferometry and evaluation of roughness.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 246 OPTICAL COATING TECHNOLOGY
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 262
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Optical interference in a multilayer stack and its application to anti-reflection coatings, beamsplitters, laser mirrors, polarizers, and bandpass filters.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 253 QUANTUM OPTICS LABORATORY
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Teaching lab to learn techniques of photon counting and methodology that explains the uses of entanglement, Bell's inequalities, single-photon interference, and the potential for business applications.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 256 OPTICS LABORATORY
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 241, OPT 261, OPT 224, OPT 242, OPT 262
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Students rely on previous learning to create, align, collect data, solve and report on a variety of optical experiments.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 261 INTERFERENCE AND DIFFRACTION
    Prerequisites:
    MTH 164, PHY 122 or 142
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 261 (P), PHY 261
    Description:
    Complex representation of waves; scalar diffraction theory; Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction and application to measurement; diffraction and image formation; optical transfer function; coherent optical systems, optical data processing, and holography.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 262 ELECTROMAGNETIC THEORY
    Prerequisites:
    MTH 165, MTH 164, PHY 122 or 142
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 262 (P), PHY 262
    Description:
    Vector analysis, Maxwell's equations, energy flow in electromagnetic fields, dipole radiation from Lorentz atoms, partially polarized radiation, spectral line broadening, dispersion, reflection and transmission, crystal optics, electro-optics, quantum optics.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 276 BIOMEDICAL OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    PHY 227, MTH 165
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Biomedical spectroscopy (absorption, fluorescence, Raman, elastic scattering); propagation of photons in highly scattering media (such as tissue); techniques for high-resolution imaging in biological media: confocal imaging, multiphoton imaging and optical coherence tomography. Taught every other fall.
    Offered:
  • OPT 287 MATH METHODS IN OPT &PHYSICS
    Prerequisites:
    MTH 164, MTH 281
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Techniques used in mathematical study of optical phenomena. Emphasis on gaining insight and experience in the use of these powerful and elegant tools for describing, solving and resolving optical systems and schema.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 307 SEM PRACTICUM
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    MSC 307, MSC 507, OPT 307 (P), OPT 407
    Description:
    Overview of techniques for using the SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and Scanning Probe (AFM, STM) and analyzing data. Students perform independent lab projects by semester's end.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 310 SENIOR DESIGN I
    Prerequisites:
    Open only to Optics Seniors
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Specifications, project development, and project planning will include design alternatives and subsystem segmentation discussions.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 311 OPT SENIOR DESIGN PROJECT
    Prerequisites:
    Open only to Optics seniors.
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Documenting each stage,student teams design, build, and test an optical device or instrument for a faculty, community or industrial sponsor.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 320 SENIOR THESIS I
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:
  • OPT 321 SENIOR THESES II
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:
  • OPT 391 INDEPENDENT READING
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:
  • OPT 395 UNDERGRADUATE REARCH PROJECT
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:
Graduate Courses

The following graduate courses are open to advanced undergraduates with permission of the instructor.

  • OPT 407 SEM PRACTICUM
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    MSC 307, MSC 507, OPT 307 (P), OPT 407
    Description:
    Overview of techniques for using the SEM (Scanning Electron Microscope) and Scanning Probe (AFM, STM) and analyzing data. Students perform independent lab projects commensurate with their graduate research.
    Offered:
  • OPT 411 MATH METH FOR OPTICS & PHY
    Prerequisites:
    ME 201, 202 and permission of instructor
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Advanced techniques utilizing vector calculus, series expansions, contour integration, integral transforms (Fourier, Laplace and Hilbert) asymptotic estimates, and second order differential equations.
    Offered:
  • OPT 412 QUANTUM MECHANICS FOR OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 412 (P), TEO 412
    Description:
    Quantum theory topics relevant to atomic physics, radiation theory and quantum optics.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 421 OPT PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    MSC 470, OPT 421 (P), TEO 421
    Description:
    Optical properties of electrons, phonons, plasmons, and polaritons in semiconductors, metals and insulators are detailed.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 424 FUNDAMENTALS OF LASERS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Fundamentals and applications of laser systems, including optical amplification, cavity design, beam propagation and modulation. (For non-Optics/Physics graduate students)
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 425 RADIATION & DETECTORS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    The course covers thermal radiation, radiometry, photmetry, colorimetry, and surveys several types of detectors.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 428 OPTICAL COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Covers analog and digital signals, multiplexing techniques, modulation formats, dispersive and nonlinear properties in optical fibers, LED's and semiconductor lasers, optical amplifiers and dispersion management with several systems.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 441 GEOMETRICAL OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Factors and methods for solving problems posed by various image-forming optical systems.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 442 INSTRUMENTAL OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 441
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 442 (P), TEO 442
    Description:
    Principles and practices for solving problems of optical imaging, optical instruments and optical systems.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 443 OPTICAL FABRIC & TESTING
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Characteristics and properties of optical glass and the methods for fabricating high quality surfaces and components. Lectures will describe applications of such glass in laser systems and nonlinear optics. Enrollment limited to 12 students.
    Offered:
  • OPT 444 LENS DESIGN
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 444 (P), TEO 444
    Description:
    3rd order aberration theory, optimization theory, global optimization, variables and constraints of various lens materials and types. Course concludes with individual lens design projects.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 446 OPTICAL INTERFERENCE COATING
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Optical interference in a multilayer stack and its application to anti-reflection coatings, beamsplitters, laser mirrors, polarizers, and bandpass filters.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 447 ADVANCED OPTICAL COATINGS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 247 (P), OPT 447, TEO 447
    Description:
    Specialty and custom coatings and their scientific applications and business uses.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 448 VISION AND THE EYE
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    BCS 223, OPT 248 (P), OPT 448, TEO 448
    Description:
    How the human eye's optical and neural factors process color and spatial information includes comparison with the design and capabilities of other animals' eyes.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 461 PHYSICAL OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Diffraction and propagation based on Fourier transform theory; integral formulation of electromagnetic propagation; imaging and transforming, optical transfer function and more.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • OPT 462 PHYSICAL OPTICS II
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 462 (P), TEO 462
    Description:
    Electromagnetic theory as a foundation for classical descriptions of many optical phenomena. Pertaining topics reviewed and expanded upon.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 463 NANO-OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 461, OPT 412
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Examination of theory of strongly focused light, confocal and nearfield optical microscopy, atomic decay rates in inhomogeneous environments, single moecule spectroscopy, and optical forces.
    Offered:
  • OPT 465 PRINCIPLES OF LASERS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 465 (P), PHY 435, TEO 465
    Description:
    Topics include quantum mechanical treatments to two-level atomic systems, optical gain, homogeneous and inhomogeneous broadening, laser resonators, cavity design, pumping schemes, rate equations, Q-switching for various lasers.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 467 NON-LINEAR OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    OPT 461 or OPT 462
    Crosslisting(s):
    OPT 467 (P), PHY 437, TEO 467
    Description:
    Fundamentals and applications of optical systems based on the nonlinear interaction of light with matter. Topics include mechanisms of optical nonlinearity, and selection criteria of nonlinear optical materials.
    Offered:
    Spring
  • OPT 468 WAVEGUIDES & OPTOELECT DEVICES
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Propagation and interactions in optical waveguides. Topics include the Goos-Haenchen effect, coupled-mode theory, pulse broadening in optical fibers, coupling between guided-wave structures and wave-guide devices such as semiconductor lasers, fiber lasers and opto-electric devices.
    Offered:
    Fall
  • *OPT 491 MASTER'S READING IN OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:
  • OPT 492 SP TOP:ILLUMINATION ENGINEER
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:
  • *OPT 495 MASTER'S RESEARCH IN OPTICS
    Prerequisites:
    Crosslisting(s):
    Description:
    Offered:

* Admission is normally limited to those students enrolled in the five-year optics BS-MS program.

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