course-details-portlet

TFY4195

Introduction to Optics and Photonics

Credits 7.5
Level Third-year courses, level III
Course start Autumn 2026
Duration 1 semester
Language of instruction English and norwegian
Location Trondheim
Examination arrangement School exam

About

About the course

Course content

Geometrical optics: Postulates of ray optics; Snell’s law; refraction and reflection at surfaces; planar and curved surfaces; Gauss’ thin lens law; Matrix optics.

Lenses and the imaging condition - basic optical instruments: Magnifying glass; Microscope; Telescope; Camera; Human Eye.

Wave optics: Wave equation; Monochromatic waves; Interference.

Beam optics: Gaussian beams; Transmission through optical components; Hermite-Laguerre beams.

Diffraction and Fourier optics: From Fresnel to Fraunhofer diffraction; Optical Fourier transform; Image criterium; Resolution of optical imaging systems.

Electro-magnetic optics: Electromagnetic theory of light; Absorption, Dispersion and Scattering of EM-waves; Waves in dielectric and dispersive media; Pulse propagation.

Polarization of light: Polarization effects upon Reflection and Refraction, Optics of anisotropic media, Optical activity and magneto-optics.

Guided-wave optics: Planar dielectric waveguide; Two-dimensional waveguides; Optical coupling in waveguides.

Emerging nano-photonics: Optics in layered media; Photonic crystals; Metamaterial optics; Metal optics - Plasmonics.

Learning outcome

Knowledge: The candidate - has basic knowledge of optics and photonics - knows key concepts and formalisms used in the fields of optics and photonics - has basic knowledge of design and analysis of optical components and systems - has basic knowledge of selected applications of optics and photonics - has basic knowledge of practical optical and photonic components and systems Skills: The candidate can - combine knowledge and skills in mathematics and physics with new theory to analyze and design practical optical components and systems General competence: The candidate can - read and interpret technical literature in optics and photonics

Learning methods and activities

Lectures, exercises, compulsory lab-work and assignments. Expected workload is 225 hours.

Compulsory assignments

  • Laboratory exercises

Further on evaluation

The re-sit examination (in August) may be changed from written to oral. If the course is given in English, the exam might be given only in English.

Course materials

To be announced at the start of the semester.

Credit reductions

Course code Reduction From
SIF4040 7.5 sp
This course has academic overlap with the course in the table above. If you take overlapping courses, you will receive a credit reduction in the course where you have the lowest grade. If the grades are the same, the reduction will be applied to the course completed most recently.

Subject areas

  • Optics
  • Physics
  • Technological subjects

Contact information

Course coordinator

Lecturers

Department with academic responsibility

Department of Physics

Timetable

Timetable

Calendar view
List view
Show detailed timetable in TP Download .ics file iCal

Examination

Examination

Examination arrangement: School exam
Grade: Letter grades

Ordinary examination - Spring 2027

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code C Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.

Re-sit examination - Summer 2027

School exam
Weighting 100/100 Examination aids Code C Duration 4 hours Exam system Inspera Assessment Place and room Not specified yet.

All about examinations at NTNU