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Wave Properties & Optics - Objectives

Content
• Refraction of light
• Total internal reflection
• Interference
• Diffraction
• Two-source interference

Learning Outcomes
Students should know about:
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Refractive index of a substance s , ns = c/cs; Candidates are not expected to recall methods for determining refractive indices
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The refractive index of air being approximately 1
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Snell's Law of refraction for a boundary between two different substances of refractive indices n1 and n2 in the form:
n1sin θ1 = n2sin θ2
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Total internal reflection including calculations of the critical angle θc at a boundary between a substance of refractive index n1 and a substance of lesser refractive index n2 or air:
sin θc = n2/ n1
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Simple treatment of fibre optics including function of the cladding with lower refractive index around central core limited to step index only; application to communications.
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Material and modal dispersion
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the principles and consequences of pulse broadening and absorption

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