INTRODUCTION TO PHOTONICS COURSE SAMPLE CALENDAR and CHECK LIST

This is an example of a course calendar. Note that there are 10 units (content may change slightly), required quizzes and status reports. Most units center around a hands-on activity that you do at home. Discussions of lab outcomes are required.

 

UNIT

Date

Topic

Readings

Problems

Web sites: See weekly assignment

Hands on Activity

Discussion

Assessment

1

The nature of light- waves

ch. 2

ch 2 #3,4,5,6,14, 15, 16

Investigate wave parameters and the e/m spectrum

No hands on

Introduce yourself - see the first threaded discussion topic

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

2
 

The nature of light-photons

ch 2.

ch 2 #17, 24, 25, 27

Investigate the creation of a photon from atomic energy transitions

Spectra of light sources

What sources did you look at? How did the spectra differ for different sources?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

3

Rays, Reflection; Index of refraction

ch 4

ch 4 #13,14,15,16

The law of reflection

The "Disappearing Beaker"

Why does the beaker disappear? What other liquids would this work with?

-Optional self test

STATUS REPORT

4

Snell's Law

ch 4

ch 4 #17,19,20,21,23

Modeling refraction with Snell's law- how does angle depend on index of refraction?

Snell's Law

What is the index of refraction of Jello?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

5

Thin Lenses and Ray Tracing

Ch 5

ch 5 #4,6, 11 (do by ray tracing)

Ray tracing to predict real and virtual image location

Measuring lens focal length

What are the focal lengths of the two converging lenses?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

6

Imaging with Thin Lenses-Thin Lens Eqn.

ch 5

ch 5 #11 (by equation this time), 12, 13

What happens when a second lens is added?

Thin Lens Equation (Imaging)

What happens when part of the lens is covered?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

7

Waves and Interference

ch 6

ch 6 #2,15,32

What happens when one wave passes through another?

No hands-on required

TBD

 -Optional self test

STATUS REPORT

8

Two, three, thousands of slits

ch 6 pg

ch 6 #16,17,18, 19,20,21

How do the interference patterns depend on wavelength and slit spacing?

Diffraction Grating

What is the spacing of the "slits" of the grating?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

9

Diffraction

ch 6

ch 6 #3,27,29,31

See weekly assignment

Hair Diameter

What is the diameter of your hair?

-Optional self test

-Required quiz

10

Polarization

Ch 7

ch 7 #3,7,14,16

See weekly assignment

Exploration of Polarization

Discuss the results of the experiment (see questions in lab write up)

-Optional self test

-Required quiz