OPTI 537

1/07

Opti 537. Imaging Physics and Devices (3) I. Overview of basic physical principles and specific devices of use in imaging systems.  Sources of light and other radiation, propagation of radiant energy, interaction of light and matter, photocathodes and photoelectronic imaging devices, semiconductor physics and devices.  The course is intended for graduate students interested in any area of imaging.  P, OPTI 501, OPTI 511 or undergraduate course in quantum mechanics.

Course Outline:

Unit I:

• Sources of light and other radiation

• Thermal sources

• Fluorescence, luminescence

• Lasers X-ray sources (Bremsstrahlung, synchrotrons, …)

Unit II:

• Propagation of radiant energy

• Quick review of wave equations

• Concept of a ray

• Boltzmann transport equation

• Radiance and radiometry

• Turbid media

• Applications to various imaging systems

Unit III:

• Interaction of radiation and matter

• Basic physics: Fermi Golden rule, Einstein A and B coefficients

• Macroscopic descriptions: cross sections, attenuation and scattering coefficients, … Photon counting

Unit IV:

• Photoelectronic imaging devices

• Photocathodes

• Vacuum photodiodes and PMTs

• Position-sensitive detectors

Unit V:

• Semiconductor physics and devices

• Semiconductor physics (bands, conductivity, mobility, PN junctions, …)

• Semiconductor detectors (bolometers, photoconductive, photovoltaic, CCDs) Semiconductor sources (LEDs, lasers)

Grading:

The course will include homework assignments, a midterm exam, and a term paper. These three components will be equally weighted in determining the student's grade in the course.

Optional Text:

Foundations of Image Science, H.H. Barrett and K.J. Myers, Wiley, 2004.