Optics and Photonics [Physics 3380]

Optics and Photonics [Physics 3380]

January 2013 - April 2013: Tuesdays 14:30-16:30 and Thursdays 14:30-15:30 in P&A 34

by Silvia Mittler, Department of Physics and Astronomy, room 208, tel: (519) 661-2111 ext 88592,

office hours: Mo-Th: 9:15 -17:00, Fr: 9:00 - 12:00, e-mail: smittler@uwo.ca

Up-to-date info, assignments, announcements etc. are on the Western OWL page.

No textbook available or required!!

Content: Electromagnetic waves, polarization, superposition of waves, interference, interferometers, reflection and refraction, geometric optics, microscopy, Frauenhoffer diffraction, Fresnel diffraction, light sources and laser, integrated optics, photonic crystals, plasmonics

• Description of examinations
  • One 3-hour final
• Description of major assignments
  • 5-6 problem assignments, each consisting of various problems, to be found on this web-page, solved as date states on assignment
  • a talk of about 15 minutes about a chosen topic
  • a report to as a hand out to the other students on the talk topic

• Mark distribution

  • Problem assignments: 25%
  • Final: 40%
  • Talk: 20 %
  • Report for other students: 15 %

• Course Calendar / Schedule
  • Assignment due dates: see head on each assignment
  • Final exam: during the November/December exam period (details to be announced)

• Course Policies
  • Attendance at lectures is optional.
  • Missed assignments: talk to me!
  • Missed final exam: Documentation must be provided to the academic counselors in your faculty in order for you to receive permission to write a make-up (usually scheduled for May 1 – plan your travel accordingly!). If you miss the make-up, again documentation must be provided, and you will then write the exam at the next sitting of this course's final exam (typically one year later).
  • Religious holidays: A student who, due to unavoidable conflicts with religious holidays which (a) require an absence from the University or (b) prohibit or require certain activities ( i.e. , activities that would make it impossible for the student to satisfy the academic requirements scheduled on the day(s) involved) , is unable to write examinations and term tests on a Sabbath or Holy Day in a particular term shall give notice of this fact in writing to his or her Dean as early as possible but not later than November 15th for mid-year examinations and March 1st for final examinations, i.e., approximately two weeks after the posting of the mid-year and final examination schedule respectively. In the case of mid-term tests, such notification is to be given in writing to the instructor within 48 hours of the announcement of the date of the mid-term test. The instructor(s) in the case of mid-term tests and the dean in the case of mid-year and spring final examinations will arrange for special examination(s) to be written at another time. In the case of mid-year and spring final examinations, the accommodation must occur no later than one month after the end of the examination period involved. It is mandatory that students seeking accommodations under this policy give notification before the deadlines, and that the Faculty accommodate these requests. The list of approved dates is given in http://www.uwo.ca/equity/docs/mfcalendar.htm .
  • Academic misconduct:
    • Cheating: University policy states that cheating is a scholastic offence which can result in an academic penalty (which may include expulsion from the program). If you are caught cheating, there will be no second warning. Cheating includes having available any electronic devices other than a watch and the approved model Sharp calculator. You may not have a cell phone accessible during tests or exams, even to use it as a calculator or watch. Possession or use of more than one clicker during a lecture will be considered cheating. Complete information on the University policies on academic offenses can be found in the Undergraduate section of this document .
    • Plagiarism: Students must write their essays and assignments in their own words. Whenever students take an idea or a passage from another author, they must acknowledge their debt both by using quotation marks where appropriate and by proper referencing (such as footnotes or citations). Plagiarism is a major academic offence. For more details, see this document .

    • If you are unable to meet a course requirement due to illness or other
      serious circumstances, you must provide valid medical or other
      supporting documentation to the Dean's office as soon as possible and
      contact your instructor immediately. It is the student's responsibility
      to make alternative arrangements with their instructor once the
      accommodation has been approved and the instructor has been informed. In
      the event of a missed final exam, a "Recommendation of Special
      Examination" form must be obtained from the Dean's Office immediately.
      For further information please see:
      http://www.uwo.ca/univsec/handbook/appeals/medical.pdf
      A student requiring academic accommodation due to illness should use
      the Student Medical Certificate when visiting an off-campus medical
      facility or request a Record's Release Form (located in the Dean's
      Office) for visits to Student Health Services.
      The form can be found here:
      https://studentservices.uwo.ca/secure/medical_document.pdf

Accessibility Statement

Please contact the course instructor if you require material in an alternate format or if any other arrangements can make this course more accessible to you. You may also wish to contact Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) at 661-2111 x 82147 for any specific question regarding an accommodation.