ELEC 262 - Introduction to Waves and Photonics - Spring 2008
Professor: Dr. Daniel Mittleman
Office: Abercrombie Lab, Room A205
Phone: x5452
E-mail: daniel@rice.edu
Overview
This is a first course on waves, optics, and photonics, intended for sophomores.  Topics to be covered include basic wave phenomena with an emphasis on electromagnetic waves, geometric optics, the interaction of light with matter, and interference and diffraction effects.  We will also have time to cover a selected number of more advanced topics including laser physics, Fourier optics, and fiber optics.  As a prerequisite, the curriculum assumes a basic level of understanding of electricity and magnetism, at the level of Physics 102.  Some students will take this class concurrently with Elec 242, although this is not required.

Course Schedule
This schedule may be updated as the semester goes along.

Week
Dates
 Lectures
Subjects
Comments
1
Jan. 7, 9, 11
 1,2,3 Wave basics  
2
Jan. 14, 16, 18
 4,5,6 Electromagnetic waves 
 
3
Jan. 23, 25
 7,8 The interaction of light with matter  MLK Day is Jan 21
4
Jan. 28, 30, Feb. 1
 9,10,11 Optics of metals, scattering of light  
5
Feb. 4, 6, 8
 12,13,14 Reflection, refraction, evanescent waves  
6
Feb. 13, 15
 15,16 Polarization Exam 1 this week (covers lectures 1-14)
Also, there will be no class on Feb. 11th
7
Feb. 18, 20, 22
 17,18,19 More polarization, group velocity  
8
Feb. 25, 27, 29
 20,21,22 Fourier's theorem in optics  
 
Week of March 3
    mid-semester break
9
Mar. 10, 12, 14
 23,24,25  Geometrical optics, beams
 
10
Mar. 17, 21
 26,27
Resonators, diffraction
 Exam 2 (covers lectures 15-26) 
Also there will be no class on Mar. 19th
11
Mar. 24, 26, 28
 28,29,30  Diffraction, Coherence and interference
12
Mar. 31, Apr. 2
 31,32  More interference effects Apr. 3-4 is spring break
13
Apr. 7, 9, 11
 33,34,35 Lasers, ultrafast pulses
14
Apr. 14, 16, 18
 36,37,38 Time-domain Fourier optics, non-linear optics   
15
Apr. 21, 23
 39,40 c(3) non-linearities  

Textbook
The required text is Optics, 4th edition, by Eugene Hecht.  You can buy it used, but be sure to get the 4th edition and not an earlier one.

Problem Sets
Problem sets will be handed out on Wednesdays (but not every week), and will usually be due IN CLASS the following Wednesday.  You are permitted to work with fellow students in solving the problems, as long as your collaboration is compatible with the Rice Honor Code (e.g., copying someone else's work is not allowed).

Office Hours
Office hours will be held in my office, which is Abercrombie A205.  You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of office hours, especially if you are having difficulty completing the problem sets in a reasonable amount of time.  Office hours will be on Tuesday afternoons, 4:00-5:30pm, since the problem sets are due on Wednesdays.  Additional office hours may be scheduled by appointment.  Call or e-mail to make an appointment. Please take advantage of this – I am happy to work with you if you are having difficulties.

Exams
There will be two midterms and a comprehensive final exam.  More details on the nature of the exams, and the scheduling, will be forthcoming.  If you anticipate that you might miss an exam, let me know AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so that an alternative can be arranged for you.  If you have a foreseeable conflict, you MUST let me know in advance of the exam date.  Unforeseeable conflicts will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.

Grading Policy
Your final grade will be determined according to the following weights:

This class will NOT be graded on a curve; however, grade cutoffs may be adjusted slightly.

Graders
Click here for information on the graders.

Regrade policy: If you think a regrade is required on any assignment, you should make an appointment with me AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, but not more than one week after the assignment or exam was returned to you.  Except in the event of obvious clerical errors, NO regrades will be considered beyond this deadline.  It is YOUR responsibility to examine your graded papers carefully to check for any grading errors.

Late assignments:  If you have a LEGITIMATE and FORSEEABLE excuse for handing in an assignment late, you will receive permission to do so with no penalty.  These situations will be handled on a case-by-case basis.  Note that a legitimate excuse such as a medical situation requires a confirming note from your physician.  If you do not fall into the aforementioned category, then you can still receive 50% credit on late problem sets, as long as I receive them no later than two weeks after the original due date.  Assignments turned in later than that will receive 25% credit, up to the last day of class.  The idea here is that, even if you cannot hand in an assignment on time, you still get some credit if you do it before the end of the semester.  This is the Better Late Than Never clause.  Obviously, using the homework solutions to complete a late assignment would defeat the whole purpose of this clause, so it is a violation of the Honor Code to do so.

Handicapped students
Any student with a documented disability needing academic adjustments or accommodations is requested to speak with me during the first two weeks of class.  All discussions will remain confidential.  Students with disabilities should also contact Disabled Student Services in the Ley Student Center, at 348-5841.