PHYS 402

Overview of geometric and physical optics, Fermat’s principle of least time, index of refraction, dispersion, Snell’s law, and the reflection and refraction of light from arbitrary shaped surfaces; lenses and mirrors, magnifiers, microscopes and telescopes, the human eye and corrective lenses; Maxwell’s equations and the wave nature of light, interference and diffraction, Fourier optics, polarization, and the Jones calculus. Note: Students with credit for PHYS 302 cannot take this course for further credit. -- Prerequisite -- PHYS 225 and PHYS 312. -- Corequisite -- None. -- Pre or Corequisite -- PHYS 351 recommended.