Advanced Optics Laboratory (2 units). Gaussian beam optics; Optical element testing; On-axis and Off-axis aberration testing; MTF measurement; Interferometry; Imaging system calibration; Human visual system. Prequisite: OPTI471A.

Instructor:
Professor Hong Hua, Room 727 (west wing)
Email: hhua@optics.arizona.edu

Office Hours:
Monday: 10:00~11:00AM or by appointment

Course Objectives:

• Be able to apply the optical principles discussed in the junior and senior level optics courses to experimental situations and observe laboratory phenomena
• Develop skills in assembly and alignment of optical systems in the laboratory (students will assemble their labs themselves)
• Learn to clearly and accurately summarize and communicate experimental procedures and results;
• Learn to operate as a team.

Gaussian beams:

• Beam alignment
• Propagation and profiling
• Filtering, expanding, imaging, collimation and propagation

Optical element testing:

• Radius of curvature testing of optical elements with interferometers
• Liquid crystal cells

Aberrations and optical testing:

• Measurement of spherical aberration
• Measurement of off-axis aberrations
• Measurement of the Modulation Transfer Function
• Aberration testing with interferometers

Imaging system calibration

• Imaging system calibration
• Image acquisition, analysis and processing

Human visual system and perception

• One 4-hour lab session per week, 15-week semester
• One 50-minute recitation session per week.

• No textbook required
• Selected readings will be assigned. They will be available for downloading through the course website
• Class Notes and Lab Instructions will be available for downloading through the course website

• Pre-lab assignments (20%)
• Post-lab assignments (20%)
• Team lab notebook (20%)
• Weekly video presentation (10%)
• Lab reports (10%)
• Team oral presentation (10%)
• Mandatory attendance (Lecture and lab): 10%

• No late submission is accepted for pre-lab assignments
• Late submission for post-lab assignments receive 10% penalty every two days.
• Late penalty for post-labs can only be waived for special circumstances when you experience difficulty times and the waiver can only be granted if you consult with the instructor or TA ahead of time and obtain approval.