Admission Requirements
MSc Physics: None
MSc Chemistry/Astronomy/CompSci/Math HTI: optics, classical electrodynamics and Fourier transforms.
Description
This course explores four distinct categories of high-tech optical instrumentation. For each technology, we will examine its design, operating principles, practical applications, the underlying physical mechanisms, and the fundamental performance limits dictated by physics. We will also investigate advanced strategies for overcoming these limitations.
To enable a thorough understanding of these instruments, the course will cover key topics including electromagnetic radiation, polarization, diffraction, interference, Gaussian beam optics, phase singularities, photon statistics, and contemporary optical design techniques.
Course objectives
Upon completion of this course you will be able to:
Analyze the operating principles of advanced optical instruments based on physical concepts such as diffraction, interference, polarization, and Gaussian beam propagation;
Evaluate the performance limits of optical instruments as dictated by fundamental physics, and assess methods to mitigate these limits;
Identify the applications and technological relevance of different optical instruments in research and industry within a limited timeframe;
Interpret and critically assess scientific literature related to modern optical instrumentation and present the key findings to peers;
Communicate technical content clearly and persuasively to both specialized and general audiences.
Timetable
In MyTimetable, you can find all course and programme schedules, allowing you to create your personal timetable. Activities for which you have enrolled via MyStudyMap will automatically appear in your timetable.
Additionally, you can easily link MyTimetable to a calendar app on your phone, and schedule changes will be automatically updated in your calendar. You can also choose to receive email notifications about schedule changes. You can enable notifications in Settings after logging in.
Questions? Watch the video, read the instructions, or contact the ISSC helpdesk.
Note: Joint Degree students from Leiden/Delft need to combine information from both the Leiden and Delft MyTimetables to see a complete schedule. This video explains how to do it.
Mode of instruction
See Brightspace
Assessment method
The final grade for the course is established by a weighted average. The grade of the oral exam needs to be sufficient (>5,5)
The date and time of the oral exam will be communicated during the course. The number of available timeslots will depend on the number of participants in the course.
The final grade will be determined as follows:
Presentation (20%)
Final exam (80%)
Reading list
J. Peatross and M. Ware, ‘Physics of Light and Optics’, ISBN 9781611660920. Also available in cheaper black-and-white version and as free download: https://optics.byu.edu/docs/opticsBook.pdf
Additional lecture notes, (scientific) articles as well as exercises sheets and answers will be provided during the course
Registration
As a student, you are responsible for enrolling on time through MyStudyMap.
In this short video, you can see step-by-step how to enrol for courses in MyStudyMap.
Extensive information about the operation of MyStudyMap can be found here.
There are two enrolment periods per year:
Enrolment for the fall opens in July
Enrolment for the spring opens in December
See this page for more information about deadlines and enrolling for courses and exams.
Note:
It is mandatory to enrol for all activities of a course that you are going to follow.
Your enrolment is only complete when you submit your course planning in the ‘Ready for enrolment’ tab by clicking ‘Send’.
Not being enrolled for an exam/resit means that you are not allowed to participate in the exam/resit.
Contact
Lecturers:
Remarks
Software
Starting from the 2024/2025 academic year, the Faculty of Science will use the software distribution platform Academic Software. Through this platform, you can access the software needed for specific courses in your studies. For some software, your laptop must meet certain system requirements, which will be specified with the software. It is important to install the software before the start of the course. More information about the laptop requirements can be found on the student website.