Modern Optics Podcast Peter Beyersdorf

We look at the behavior of electrooptic devices as amplitude and phase modulators.

We look at birefringence in crystals and discuss optical activity and the Faraday effect.

We look at the vectorial nature of light and describe polarization in terms of Jones vectors

Diffraction from a double slit is discussed. The convolution theorem is presented and the grating equation is derived. (incomplete)

We look at the relationship between far-field (Fraunhofer) diffraction and the Fourier transform, and explore the diffraction pattern of a uniformly illuminated circular aperture, which leads to the Rayleigh criterion for resolution in an optical system

We look at Fraunhofer diffraction from a slit and for a Gaussian beam. We use Huygen's principle and also discuss Babinet's principle