This course provides a comprehensive treatment of wave phenomena, particularly light, leading to an introductory study of quantum mechanics. Topics include wave propagation, polarization, interference and interferometry, and diffraction.

Course meeting times:

Tuesday and Thursday 11-12:15, Kendade 203

Friday 1:15-2:05, Kendade G6

Lab: Tuesday 1-4 PM, Kendade G7

Textbooks:

Required: Introduction to Optics, 3rd edition, by the 3 Pedrottis, Prentice Hall, 2007.

Optional: Introduction to Matlab 7, by Delores Etter, David Kuncicky, and Holly Moore, Prentice Hall, 2005. (If you can afford a second book, it would be useful to have your own copy of this. But, we'll leave a few copies in the physics lounge as well for those of you who don't want to buy two books.)