PHYS 246 - Waves, Optics, and Optical Technology

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SP, alternate years. This course offers a combination of theoretical and experimental investigations into light and its interaction with matter. The electromagnetic-wave model and the photon model are developed and applied in the context of optical materials and instruments. Coverage includes assorted topics relating to lasers and other light sources, detectors, spectrometers, interferometers, thin films, gratings, polarizers, phase retarders, fiber optics, nonlinear crystals, and electro-optical technologies. Laboratory integrated with lecture. Prerequisites: PHYS 235 or PHYS 222 and MATH 172. CS 106 is recommended.