Physics 334: Radiation and Optics
last updated: April 28 2019
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Announcements: 

Test #3 will be an in-class test on Coherence, Lasers and Interference on Tuesday, April 30.    The comprehensive final is the
following Monday at 9:00 AM.  This is also the day the extra credit post-test will be given.
  

Class meeting time:  T/Th 12:30-1:45 Workman 310

HW: Due in Workman Office (357) or Physics mailbox by 4:30 pm on day of assignment


Contact Info: M. Creech-Eakman, Workman 357, X5809, michelle.creecheakman   -at-   nmt.edu

Office hours: Office hours posted on the door or by appt. (email me at above address) -- note I have a heavy travel schedule this semester

and will be gone several times.  Generally Tuesday afternoons are the best times to catch me.


Main books: Electrodynamics, 4rd edition, Griffiths and Introduction to Optics, 3rd Ed., Pedrotti, Pedrotti and Pedrotti

Click here for a pdf copy of the syllabus.



CLICK HERE for a PDF copy of the instructions for the paper.



Quote for thought:
"The problems that exist in the world today cannot be solved by the level of thinking that created them."
--Albert Einstein

I have other science quotes here if you are seeking inspiration.



Detailed Lectures, Reading and homework assignments:

Jan 15: Syllabus and questionnaries.  HW #1 coming out. 
Jan  17:  Short class -- starting Ch 8.
Jan 22: Optics pre-test. Reading Summary Ch 8 Due.  Prof AWOL.  Ms. Baylis-Aguirre covering.
Jan 24: More conservation principles. HW #1 Due.
Jan 29: Conservation examples Start EM waves.  Reading Summary Ch 9, Sec 1-3 Due.
Jan 31: More waves.  Boundary Conditions. HW #2 Due.
Feb 5: Wave interactions with media.  Absorption and dispersion. Reading Summary Ch 9 Sec 4-5 & Ch 10 and ExCr Assignment Due.
Feb 7: More absorption with conductors, skin depth.
Feb 12: EM waves example.   Paper Assignment coming out.  HW #3 Due
Feb 14:
Start gauge theory & retarded pot'ls.
Feb 19:  More potentials and gauges. 
Feb 21:
Finish potentials.  Start radiation.  HW #4 Due  
Feb 26:  Test #1 -- in class exam.  Ms. Baylis-Aguirre will give it.
Feb 28: Radiation of electric dipole.  
Mar 5: Radiation of magnetic dipole.
Questions for RS for Ch 11 due.
Mar 7: Radiation of arbitrary sources and radiation reaction.  HW #5 Due.
Mar 12:  Finish Griffiths.  Start optics.
Mar 14: More optics discussions. HW #6 Due.
March 18-22 -- Spring Break -- No classes
Mar 26:  More geometric optics.
Mar 28: Prisms and devices.
Apr 2: Devices, polarization, coherence. Questions & RS for Ch 3, part 4, part 5, and all 6 due. (See handout.)
Apr 4: Lasers. HW #7 Due.  Test #2 Coming out - Ch 10&11 Gr/Ch 1-3 P3.
Apr 9:  More lasers.
Apr 11: Laser problems. Start interference. Test #2 due.
Apr 16: Interference Questions and RS for Ch 7&8 due.
Apr 18: Interferometry & some demos.  HW #8 Due.
Apr 23:  Diffraction and gratings. Questions and RS for CH 11&12 due.
Apr 25: Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction. HW #9 Due.

Apr 30: Test #3 in class - Coherence, Lasers and Interference. Last day of class.  Professor AWOL - Ms. Baylis-Aguirre will give it.
May 9 - Final papers due. Final at 9:00 AM.  Extra credit post-test given.

May 2-8 Finals week 
FINALS WEEK -- FINAL is Monday, May 6 at 9 AM  in our regular classroom.  Comprehensive Final -- all previous topics are fair game.  If you are unsure if you qualify based on previous exam scores, to skip the final come chat with me.
  It will be 1/3 new material, 2/3rds review
and you may bring one page, both sides, to the final.