Physics 325

 Wave Motion and Optics

Spring 2006

Last revised 4 May 2006 PT

Goals:

To understand wave phenomena with specific applications to waves in media and electromagnetic phenomena. Wave equations, propagation, radiation, coherence, interference, diffraction, scattering. Light and its interactions with matter, geometrical and physical optics. Experiments for this course are covered in Physics 308. As with any physics course, the best way to understand this subject is by doing lots of problems.  "… I have come more and more to the conclusion that there is no teaching in physics, there is only inspiration to learn....  The teacher may stimulate the mind of the student...but the journey to that goal must be made by the student himself."  W. F. G. Swann, "The Teaching of Physics," Am. J. Phys. 19(3), 182-187 (1951).

Prerequisites:

Physics 205, 241, 244, or 249; Physics 311, and Physics 321 ( or equivalent introduction to Fourier analysis).  Physics 322 or concurrent registration is recommended.  Experiments for this course are covered in Physics 308.

Textbooks:

On Reserve in the Physics Library:

Classes:

2120 Chamberlin Hall, MWF 9:55-10:45
The lectures supplement, but do not substitute for, reading and studying the text. I expect you to do the assigned reading before coming to lecture. In class I will often suggest exercises. I encourage lots of questions.

Staff:

Prof. Peter Timbie, 6209 Chamberlin Hall, 262-5916, pttimbie@wisc.edu
Secretary: Mr. Jim Breitzman, 6217 Chamberlin, 262-5916
Grader: TBD
 

Office Hours:

Please feel free to come to my office hours to talk about anything.
Wednesdays and Thursdays 2:20 – 3:20.
 

Homework:

Due in class every friday.  We will go over some problems together.  I will give ample partial credit for just attempting any problem.  No late homework will be accepted, but the lowest one will be dropped.  I strongly recommend studying with other students in the class.
 

Exams:

There will be two in-class exams:  Friday, February 24 and Friday, March 24
There will also be a final exam.

 

Paper:                 Read at least three of these papers (other than your own) and be prepared to answer questions about them on the final exam.  Your choices must be on three different topics.

Author

Topic

Daniel Allen

Adaptive Optics

Angie Blissett

Confocal Microscopy

Alex Cohen

Stopping Light

Becky Cole

Gravitational Radiation

Sam Drezdzon

Acoustic Surgery

Don Fahey

Thermoacoustic Oscillations

Shannon Ghorbani

Optical Computing

Chad Hinze

Medical Ultrasound

Yohei Ikeda

Gravitational Waves

Steve Kaeppler

Helioseismology

Michael Kim

Dark Energy

Kraig Kumfer

Second Harmonic Imaging Microscopy

Tanya Lai

Gravitational Lensing

Robert Lindner

Gravitational Radiation

Mike Line

Adaptive Optics

Ben Payne

Blue Diode Lasers

Tony Perry

Adaptive Optics

Charlie Pomasl

Atom Lasers

Kirt Robbins

Sonoluminescence

Eric Sczygelski

Holography

Ben Spike

Photoacoustic Effect

Adrienne Stilp

Radio Interferometry

Brian Thompson

Stress Wave Propagation

Ryan Wiseman

Fiber Optics

 

Grading:

Field Trip:    Friday, April 28 3-5 PM to Prairie Technologies

Topics:

Schedule:

January 27

HW1 solutions

February 3

HW2 solutions

February 10

HW3 solutions

February 17

HW4 solutions

February 24     Exam 1

Exam1 Review solutions

 

Exam1 Solutions

March 3

HW5 solutions

March 10

HW6 solutions

Spring Break

 

March 24         Exam 2

Exam2 Review solutions

 

Exam2 solutions

March 31

HW7 solutions

April 7

HW8_solutions

April 14

HW9_solutions

April 21           Paper Due

HW10_solutions

April 28

HW11 solutions

May 5

Final review solutions

May 8 (Monday) 2:45 PM Final Exam

Van Vleck B231

 

Electronic Aids:

This web page is located at http://uw.physics.wisc.edu/~timbie/P325/P325syl.html. Course grades and other announcements will appear at the Learn@UW site for this course.