Light and Matter

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• polarization and vector properties of light
• light propagation in isotropic, anisotropic and nonlinear media crystal optics, metal optics, and polarizing devices
• elementary classical and quantum mechanical microscopic models of the light-matter interaction process
• major phenomena of nonlinear optics such as harmonic generation
• electro- and magneto-optical effects and devices

The Maxwell and wave equations in media; forced oscillation and resonant optical response; the Lorentz dispersion theory; causality and the Kramers-Kronig relations.

Light as a vector field; polarized and unpolarized light; Jones vectors, Stokes parameters and Müller matrices; the energy, momentum and angular momentum of an electromagnetic wave Introduction to quantum optics and the two state atom approximation using Dirac notation; Rabi oscillations Controlling light with matter: plane waves in an anisotropic crystal; birefringence, optical activity and polarizing devices Controlling light with electric and magnetic fields, the electro-optical Pockels and Kerr effects, the magneto-optical Faraday effect Controlling light with light: nonlinear optical response of a forced molecular oscillator; basic nonlinear optical phenomena; harmonic generation.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat

An internal repeat is where you take all of your modules again, including any you passed. An external repeat is where you only re-take the modules you failed.