PHY2038 : Optics & Principles of Electromagnetism
- Offered for Year: 2021/22
- Module Leader(s): Dr Thomas Billam
- Lecturer: Dr Jon Goss
- Owning School: Mathematics, Statistics and Physics
- Teaching Location: Newcastle City Campus
Semesters
| Semester 1 Credit Value: | 10 |
| Semester 2 Credit Value: | 10 |
| ECTS Credits: | 10.0 |
Aims
To enhance student’s knowledge of fundamentals of optics and its applications in optical instrumentation and laser science and technology.
To enhance the students' knowledge of electromagnetic fields and wave behaviour and how this can be used to describe quasistatic fields, waves and introduce superconductivity.
Outline Of Syllabus
Geometric Optics
Fermat’s principle, reflection and refraction, paraxial approximation, lenses and mirrors, ray tracing, optical instruments, abberations
Physical Optics
Vector and scalar wave equations, nature of EM waves at optical frequencies, polarization, intensity, plane waves, Fourier transforms, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, Rayleigh criterion, resolving power of a grating, reflections from a dielectric and Brewster’s angle
Optical cavities and Lasers
Fabry-Perot interferometer, gain media, longitudinal cavity modes, Gaussian transverse modes, Gaussian beams and lenses, basics of Laser action.
Maxwell Equations
Basic vector algebra, definitions of Curl, Div and Grad, review quasi-static fields, Laplace and Poisson equations, continuity equation, derivation of Maxwell’s equations for static and time varying fields. Physical and engineering significance of Maxwell’s equations.
Electromagnetic Waves
Derivation of the wave equation, solution of wave equation for the transverse electromagnetic (TEM) case, plane wave concepts, wavelength, attenuation and phase constants, propagation of waves in lossless and lossy media, polarisation, wave power (Poynting vector), interaction with dielectric and conducting media and wave reflection and refraction.
Introduction to Superconduction
A semi-quantitative introduction to the superconducting state; type-I and type-II superconducting materials; London equations; Josephson Junctions and SQUIDs
Relevant examples will be provided to reinforce key topics as appropriate.
Teaching Methods
Teaching Activities
| Category | Activity | Number | Length | Student Hours | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 40 | 1:00 | 40:00 | Lectures/Problem classes – Present in Person |
| Scheduled Learning And Teaching Activities | Lecture | 4 | 1:00 | 4:00 | Revision Lectures – Present in Person |
| Structured Guided Learning | Lecture materials | 22 | 1:00 | 22:00 | Review asynchronous online material |
| Guided Independent Study | Assessment preparation and completion | 30 | 1:00 | 30:00 | Completion of in course assessments |
| Guided Independent Study | Independent study | 104 | 1:00 | 104:00 | Preparation time for lectures, background reading, coursework review |
| Total | 200:00 |
Teaching Rationale And Relationship
Lectures are used for the delivery of theory and explanation of methods, illustrated with examples, and for giving general feedback on marked work. Problems classes are used to allow practice of applying knowledge and skills from the lectures to problem solving on more substantial problems.
Assessment Methods
The format of resits will be determined by the Board of Examiners
Exams
| Description | Length | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Written Examination | 120 | 2 | A | 60 | N/A |
Other Assessment
| Description | Semester | When Set | Percentage | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prob solv exercises | 1 | M | 20 | Problem-solving exercises: optics |
| Prob solv exercises | 2 | M | 20 | Problem-solving exercises: electromagnetism |
Assessment Rationale And Relationship
A substantial formal unseen examination is appropriate for the assessment of the material in this module. The coursework assignments allow the students to develop their problem solving techniques, to practise the methods learnt in the module, to assess their progress and to receive feedback; these assessments have a secondary formative purpose as well as their primary summative purpose.
In the event of on-campus examinations not being possible, an on-line alternative assessment will be used for written examination 1.
Reading Lists
Timetable
- Timetable Website: www.ncl.ac.uk/timetable/
- PHY2038's Timetable