Course detail

Photonics

FSI-RFO Acad. year: 2021/2022 Winter semester

The course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of photonics. The topics covered in the lectures are the following:
Generation of coherent light by lasers and incoherent light by luminescence sources.
Transmission of light in free space through optical components, and scanning of the light by the help of electrically, acoustically, or optically controlled devices.
Detection of light.
These given areas can be widely applied in optical communications, signal processing, sensing, and energy transport.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

The course is intended for students in physics who want to apply their knowledge of optics when dealing with engineering problems, as well as for students majoring in engineering who want to acquire the basic principles of optics.

Prerequisites

Knowledge of mathematics and physics at technical university level.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

The course is taught through lectures explaining the basic principles and theory of the discipline. Exercises are focused on practical topics presented in lectures. Teaching is suplemented by practical laboratory work.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Course-unit is awarded on condition of having participated in the selected laboratory measurements and delivered a written report. Examination – the exam has a written and an oral part.

Language of instruction

Czech

Aims

The course serves as an introduction to photonics emphasizing the concepts governing applications of current interest.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Preparation for the seminars and written reports of measurements.

The study programmes with the given course

Programme B3A-P: Applied Sciences in Engineering, Bachelor's
branch B-MET: Mechatronics, 5 credits, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

History of optics. Nature and properties of light. Wave and particles. Interaction of light and matter.
Geometrical optics. Paraxial rays. Optical components. Basic optical imaging systems.
Gradient-index optics. Matrix optics.
Polarization. Dichroism. Polarization by reflection. Optical activity.
The superposition of waves: The addition of waves of the same frequency. The addition of waves of the different frequency. Group velocity. Two-beam interference. Interference by reflection from non-identical interfaces.
Interferometers: Young, Murty, Michelson, Mach-Zehnder. The rotating Sagnac interferometer.
Multiple-beam interference. The Fabry-Perot interferometer. Interference filter. Antireflection coating.
Basic theory of diffraction. The Fresnel and the Fraunhofer approximation.
Fraunhofer diffraction from a slit. Fraunhofer diffraction from a periodic array of slits. Diffraction pattern of a circular aperture.
Holography. Holographic interferometry.
Fourier optics. Fourier transform. Abbe theory of imagery. Spatial filtering.
Lasers. Theory of laser oscillation. Characteristics of the lasers output.
Photodetectors.
Electro-optics. Acousto-optics.

Laboratory exercise

14 hours, compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

Collimators and autocollimator. Measuring focal lens.
Murty interferometer. Michelson interferometer. Mach-Zehnder interferometer.
Difraktion patern of the of one and two slits. Diffraction patern of a circular aperture.
Mikrointerferometer.
Spectrometers.
Parameters and transformation of the laser beam.
Holography. Holographic interferometry.

Exercise

12 hours, compulsory

Syllabus

Graphical image construction.
Interferometry.
Localization of the fringes in the two-beam interferometers.
Resolving power and resolution of an imaging system.
The visibility of an interference pattern. Effect of Spectral width on fringe visibility.
Spatial and temporal coherence of the light.
Polarization of the light.