Demonstrational Optics presents a new didactical approach to the study of optics. Emphasizing the importance of elaborate new experimental demonstrations, pictorial illustrations, computer simulations and models of optical phenomena in order to ensure a deeper understanding of the general and statistical optics. It includes problems focused on the pragmatic needs of students, secondary school teachers, university professors and optical engineers.

This volume aims to present improved teaching methods and practical explanations of optical phenomena. An important feature is the inclusion of elaborate pictorial approach to explaining optical phenomena in parallel to a general mathematical description. The modern approach developed here is also used to illustrate many basic phenomena, complimenting the existing literature.

The volume contains a valuable compendium of optical experiments for university, college and senior-school physics teachers. Experiments and modern computer simulations are described within the volume in sufficient detail to allow successful reproduction in a classroom or lecture theatre.

Inhalt

1. Historical Introduction.- 1 Wave nature of light.- 2 Electromagnetic theory.- 3 Optical Spectroscopy.- 4 Quantum Optics.- 5 Atom model and relativity.- 6 Coherence and precision optical instrumentation.- 7 Light correlation and statistics.- 2. Properties Of Light Waves.- 1 Laws of electromagnetism.- 2 Properties of electromagnetic waves.- 3 Quasi-monochromatic waves.- 4 Energy and momentum of light.- 3. Light Polarization.- 1 Basic types of light wave polarization.- 2 Polarization of quasi-monochromatic light.- 3 Optical dipole radiation and polarizing effects.- 4. Light Waves In Media.- 1 Maxwell's equations in isotropic media.- 2 Reflection and refraction.- 3 The Fresnel formulae.- 4 Dispersion.- 5 Radiation under uniform charge motion.- 5. Optical Anisotropy.- 1 Double refraction in calcite.- 2 The structure of calcite.- 3 A monochromatic wave in an anisotropic crystal.- 4 Natural optical anisotropy of materials.- 5 Artificial birefringence.- 6 Optical activity.- 6. Geometrical Optics.- 1 Homocentric and astigmatic beams.- 2 One refracting surface.- 3 Centered optical systems.- 4 Lenses.- 5 Errors of optical systems.- 6 Formation of optical images.- 7 Light propagation inside inhomogeneous media.