2.71/2.

710 Optics

2.71/2.710 Optics

Instructors: Prof. George Barbastathis

Prof. Colin J. R. Sheppard
Assistant Instructor: Dr. Se Baek Oh
Teaching Assistant: Jos (Pepe) A. Domnguez-Caballero
Admin. Assistant: Kate Anderson
Adiana Abdullah

Units: 3-0-9, Prerequisites: 8.02, 18.03, 2.004

2.71: meets the Course 2 Restricted Elective requirement
2.710: H-Level, meets the MS requirement in Design
gateway subject for Doctoral Qualifying exam in Optics
MIT lectures (EST): Mo 8-9am, We 7:30-9:30am
NUS lectures (SST): Mo 9-10pm, We 8:30-10:30pm

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Image of optical coherent tomography

removed due to copyright restrictions. Please see:
http://www.lightlabimaging.com/image_gallery.php
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Images from Wikimedia Commons, NASA, and timbobee at Flickr.

Natural & artificial imaging systems

Image by NIH National Eye Institute.

Image by Thomas Bresson at Wikimedia Commons.

Image by hyperborea at Flickr.

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Image by James Jones at Wikimedia Commons.

Image removed due to copyright restrictions.

Please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:LukeSkywalkerROTJV2Wallpaper.jpg

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Class objectives

Cover the fundamental properties of light propagation and interaction

with matter under the approximations of geometrical optics and scalar
wave optics, emphasizing
physical intuition and underlying mathematical tools
systems approach to analysis and design of optical systems
Application of the physical concepts to topical engineering domains,
chosen from
high-definition optical microscopy
optical switching and routing for data communications and computer
interconnects
optical data storage
interface to human visual perception and learning

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What you need

Absolutely necessary
Euclidean geometry, trigonometry
calculus with complex variables
Taylor series approximation
MATLAB or other computation/visualization software
linear systems (2.004 level, we will extensively review)
Helpful if you know but we will cover here
basic electrodynamics (Maxwells equations)
basic wave propagation
Fourier analysis

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Learning resources

Announcements, notes, assignments, solutions, links, broadcast

Textbooks:
Optics by E. Hecht, 4th edition (Addison-Wesley)
Introduction to Fourier optics by J. W. Goodman, 3rd edition
(McGraw-Hill)
Other recommended texts:
Waves and fields in optoelectronics by H. A. Haus
Optics by Klein and Furtak
Fundamentals of photonics by Saleh and Teich
Fundamentals of optics by Jenkins and White
Modern Optical Engineering by W. J. Smith
Experimental demonstrations (in class, almost weekly)

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Administrative: 2.71

Grade: 30% homeworks, 30% quizes,

40% final exam
Eight homeworks
each due 3 lectures after post date (see syllabus)
see website for collaboration & late policies
mainly comprehension problems

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Administrative: 2.710

Grade: 30% homeworks, 20% quizes, 20% project,

30% final exam
Eight homeworks
each due 3 lectures after post date (see syllabus)
see website for collaboration & late policies
both comprehension and open-ended problems
Project
teams of 3-5
two project types: I. Read & Lecture; II. Research
selected among one of available topics or self-selected
start early March
weekly or so info meetings with project assistants
oral presentation on Weds. May 6

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Administrative: both

Two quizes:
Quiz 1 on Monday March 9th, in class
content: geometrical optics
Quiz 2 on Monday April 27th, in class
content: scalar wave optics
Final exam:
scheduled by the Registrar
comprehensive on all material covered in class
Practice problems will be available before each quiz and the final
Absence from quizes/final: Institute policies apply
Grading: Institute definitions apply

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Administrative: both (cont.)

Please study lecture notes and book reading assignments

before class

Questions: the most important part of learning

In class
During office hours (time/location TBA)
After hours: please use course discussion web site No email
Logistic/administrative questions: please email instructor team (faster
response)
No recitations
Some math revision sessions scheduled Mo or We, 7pm+
(MIT only)
In class problem solving in teams

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Topics

Geometrical optics
Basic ray-tracing
Image formation and imaging systems
Advanced ray-tracing: Hamiltonian optics
Optical system design
Wave optics
Scalar linear wave propagation
Wave properties of light
Polarization
Interference and interferometers
Fourier/systems approach to light propagation
Spatial filtering, resolution, coherent & incoherent image formation,
space-bandwidth product
Wavefront modulation, holography, diffractive optics
Subwavelength optics: nanophotonics, metamaterials

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Brief history of Optics

Ancient Greeks (~5-3 century BC)

Pythagoras (rays emerge from the eyes)
Democritus (bodies emit magic substance, simulacra)
Plato (combination of both of the above)
Aristotle (motion transfer between object & eye)
Middle Ages
Alkindi, Alhazen defeat emission hypothesis (~9-10 century AD)
Lens is invented by accident (northern Italy, ~12th century AD)
Della Porta, da Vinci, Descartes, Gallileo, Kepler formulate
geometrical optics, explain lens behavior, construct optical
instruments (~15th century AD)
Beyond the middle ages:
Newton (1642-1726) and Huygens (1629-1695) fight over nature of
light

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Brief history of Optics (conted)

18th19th centuries
Fresnel, Young experimentally observe diffraction, defeat Newtons
particle theory
Maxwell formulates electro-magnetic equations, Hertz verifies
antenna emission principle (1899)
20th century
Quantum theory explains wave-particle duality
Invention of holography (1948)
Invention of laser (1956)
Optical applications proliferate
computing, communications, fundamental science, medicine,
manufacturing, entertainment

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Nobel Laureates in the field of Optics

O. Shinomura, M. Chalfie, R. Y.
Tsien Chemistry 2008
Roy J. Glauber, John L. Hall,
Theodor W. Hnsch Physics 2005
W. Ketterle (MIT), E. Cornell, C.
Wieman Physics 2001
Z. Alferov, H. Kroemer, J. Kilby
Physics 2000
A. Zewail Chemistry 1999
S. Chu, C. Cohen-Tannoudji, W.
Phillips Physics 1997
E. Ruska Physics 1986
N. Bloembergen, A. Schawlaw, K.
Siegbahn Physics 1981
A. Cormack, G. Housefield Biology
or Medicine 1979
M. Ryle, A. Hewish Physics 1974
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D. Gabor Physics 1971

A. Kastler Physics 1966 C.
Townes (MIT), N. Basov, A.
Prokhorov Physics 1964
F. Zernicke Physics 1953
C. Raman Physics 1930
W. H. Bragg, W. L. Bragg
Physics 1915
G. Lippman Physics 1908
A. Michelson Physics 1907
J. W. Strutt (Lord Rayleigh)
Physics 1904
H. Lorentz, P. Zeeman Physics
1902
W. Rntgen Physics 1901

The dual particlelwave nature of light

energy in

energy out
L

A beam of light can be thought of as ...

... a flux of particles

... an electromagnetic wave

(Huygens/Maxwell/Hertz)

photons

@
%
=

u
-

x ~prn/=o
Energy carried by each particle: & Qy
Zero mass, speed:

Es

h- = 6.6262
-x I-Q - ~ J

wavelength A

(Planck's const.)

a,
rc

.-o
L
w
a
o

after time lapse

a,

-T (period)
_1

Dispersion relation
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~~ space)

direction of propagation
NUS
..
1..1-

r..

..-

>I

,121.

-,

The electromagnetic spectrum

30nm

Visible spectrum

~0.4m

~0.7m
10m
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-rays
x-rays
Ultra-violet
Blue, ~488nm; ~6.11014Hz
Green, ~532nm; ~5.51014Hz

Red, ~633nm; ~4.81014Hz

Infra-red
microwaves
RF waves

1D wave propagation
%i@

$-Tb
t=
T
- /$

&*WB
i=
T[a
I

-t -=&T/&
d=W&
I

6 = 7T/4

riw

&
'
I

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NUS
,-+>-,
P.,?--#

rr'

,.

,Vlr.

Wavefronts in 3D
Jk

4%

@Q

Planar wavefront (plane wave):

8

'

'

8'

8'

0'

t=9

Z=U

z = A/@

= T/81

planar surface (the wavefront).

fl

a0 1

t = TI4
z =XI4

IP8

The wave phase is constant along a

8
I

08v/
I

8
0

As time evolves, the wavefronts propagate

I
I

we
at the
saywave
that the
speed
wavefronts
without changing;
are invariant to
propagation in this case.

800v/

t=
z =M I 8

Spherical wavefront (spherical wave):

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The wave phase is constant along a

spherical surface (the wavefront).
As time evolves, the wavefronts propagate
at the wave speed and expand outwards
while preserving the wave's energy.

I
lllii

Rays

Rays are:
1) normals to the wavefront surfaces
2) trajectories of "particles of light"

Properties of rays:

&--&It = T/8
X=W
z = A/@

t = TI4
z = A/B

t = &T/@
z = 3A/8

I)
Continuous and piece-wise differentiable
2) Ray trajectories are such as to
minimize the "optical pathn

* in free space, ray trajectories are

straight lines

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I
lllii
NUS
;.. -,;
->-..

-,

Light interaction with matter

We will consider three basic types of light-matter interaction:

absorption
scattering
refraction

The type of interaction that occurs depends on

the wavelength of the light
other wave attributes of the light, e.g. polarization
the atomic/molecular structure of matter
the amount of incident light energy

At high energies, nonlinear interactions occur, e.g. florescence and

multi-photon scattering or even ionization; we will mention them briefly
later in this class, but we will not cover them in detail.

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Absorption

optical medium

7
I

---

Physical grigin of absorption: conversion of ligu energy to heat

- T ( 0 h m i c losses)- -

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INUS

Light absorption through the atmosphere

10

3.0
400-700nm:
human vision
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w NUS
:::,-,
*:,::.;,-,

Refraction: light speed in vacuum and matter

In dielectric materials
(e.g. water, glass) :
C
-

where

n'
the quantity n is referred to as

the refractive index

(aka index of refraction)

The refractive index expresses the optical "density7' of a dielectric medium

Refractive index values of commonly used dielectrics:

We accept the definition of refractive index n as a phenomenological quaqtity. We will explain its physical origins more rigorously when we discuss thp
electromagnetic description of light in more detail.
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NUS

*-.

w-Urry
d

qefraction: wavelength in vacuum and matter

-A-

Dispersion relation

because v is determined
by the photon
Light wavelength
energy
in dielectric
@=b
ofrefractiveindexn

Light speed
in dielectric
ofrefractiveindexn
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I
lllii
NUS
..
-1

,.. . ,,.-,l.
1..1.

>I

-,

The minimum path (Fermat) principle

material with variable

optical "density"

Pf

"optical path length"

n (r)4

we p* I? &t the ray fok1.0~~

is such that
the value of the path integral of refrwtive index n (r)
along I' is smaller than all other passible paths I".

the minimum action (Lagrangian)

principle
-

ppacg pr u&rm

space of constwt refractive index Q:

t line
Consequences: the laws of reflection and refraction
-

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NUS

Incidence at dielectric interface

??
??

incident
When a light ray is incident at a dielectric interface,
part of the light energy is reflected back into the material on the left-hand side
part of the light energy is refracted towards the material on the right-hand side
Here, we seek to determine the directions of propagation of the reflected and
refracted rays. The fraction of energy that is reflected or refracted requires
electromagnetics, so well postpone its calculation for later.
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The law of reflection

A ray departing from P in the direction B

,with rmpBectt o the mirror normal
(isre&cted symmef r i c e at tk same a g k 8.

P'

This is because the symmetric path POP'

has minimum length.

Campxe, for example, the altanative POP'.

Clearly, IPOI JUP'I < I P ~ I ~
+P ' I .
-

mirror

Comider tbe c~di32wtion

af OP' backwards
through the mirror.
To QQ observer in the direction
af P , the ray will appew
to b v e originated at P".

or

dielectric interface

NUS
--

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Reflection from mirrors

Projected:
left-handed
triad

mirror

(front view)

In:
right-handed
triad

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Out:
left-handed
triad

The law of refraction (Snell's Law)

Taking derivatives with respect to x 7

a(cP&)
las;

b-z

=~&4-22'&4#=Q

=+-n a 0 = a's&@'

Tbis re&& is k n o w as

's &ew,or

=
NUS

--

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Summary of todays lecture

Dual particle/wave nature of light

wave description: wavelength, frequency, wavefronts,
dispersion relation
particle description: rays
Absorption (Beers law)
Refraction: phenomenological interpretation of the refractive index
Fermats principle
Corollaries of Fermats principle:
law of reflection
law of refraction (Snells law)

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MIT OpenCourseWare
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2.71 / 2.710 Optics

Spring 2009

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