BSc Optics: 2nd edition

Sander Konijnenberg; Aurèle J.L. Adam; H. Paul Urbach

doi:10.59490/tb.91

BSc Optics: 2nd edition

Authors

Sander Konijnenberg

Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences

Aurèle J.L. Adam

Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6727-946X

H. Paul Urbach

Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0079-0607

DOI: https://doi.org/10.59490/tb.91

Keywords: geometrical optics, interferometry, diffraction optics, polarisation states, Jones vectors, coherence of light

Synopsis

This book treats optics at the level of students in the later stage of their bachelor or the beginning of their master. It is assumed that the student is familiar with Maxwell’s equations. Although the book takes account of the fact that optics is part of electromagnetism, special emphasis is put on the usefulness of approximate models of optics, their hierarchy and limits of validity. Approximate models such as geometrical optics and paraxial geometrical optics are treated extensively and applied to image formation by the human eye, the microscope and the telescope.

Polarisation states and how to manipulate them are studied using Jones vectors and Jones matrices. In the context of interference, the coherence of light is explained thoroughly. To understand fundamental limits of resolution which cannot be explained by geometrical optics, diffraction theory is applied to imaging. The angular spectrum method and evanescent waves are used to understand the inherent loss of information about subwavelength features during the propagation of light. The book ends with a study of the working principle of the laser.

Author Biographies

Sander Konijnenberg, Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences

Sander Konijnenberg studied Applied Physics at Delft University of Technology. At the same university, he obtained his PhD (cum laude) in the Optics Group on the topic of ptychography and phase retrieval. He currently works at ASML Research in Veldhoven (NL).

Aurèle J.L. Adam, Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences

Aurèle J.L. Adam is an Assistant Professor at Delft University of Technology. He is an Engineer from CentraleSupelec (promo 2000) and got his PhD from the University of Paris VI. His expertise lies in the Terahertz field and he enjoys scattering problems and free form optics.

H. Paul Urbach, Delft University of Technology, Faculty of Applied Sciences

H. Paul Urbach is Professor of Optics at Delft University of Technology and scientific director of the Dutch Optics Centre, a joint initiative of Delft University and the Dutch Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Previously he has been with Philips Research Laboratories in Eindhoven. His research interests are optical imaging and diffraction theory.