Objective:

Students will study the phenomena and the mathematics of diffraction and interference.  They will become familiar with optical instruments based on these phenomena

Diffraction

• Review:  Elementary wave optics, diffraction
• Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction
• Fresnel diffraction theory
• Diffraction summary

Interference

• Review: elementary wave optics, interference
• Multiple slit interference
• Thin film interference
• Interferometers

Interference of non-collinear beams