Optical Engineering is the study of the how optical elements can be applied to the design and construction of optical instruments, and their application to practical engineering problems.  The course concentrates on the practical application of optics, and less on the physics behind the behaviour. It starts with a basic explanation of the concepts of light, as electromagnetic radiation.  Then it looks how light is generated, at both the atomic and black body level, plus how light is measured (radiometry and photometry). Next optical interaction with materials is discussed beginning with reflection, refraction, and scattering.  Then it will look at basic reflection (mirror) optical elements, followed by refractive optics (wedges, lenses).  The human eye is considered as an optical system.  Then we look optical systems created by multiple optical elements, and the simple geometric, matrix and ray tracing methods of developing systems.  Next lens/mirror aberrations are analyzed: what happens in real systems when the simple approximations of geometric optics are exceeded.  Polarization of light is studied, and applied to such devices as LCD displays.  Optical interference is studied and applied to interferometers.  Diffraction is studied next and how this limits the resolution of optical devices, and creates devices such as diffraction gratings.  Then the course looks at practical engineering optics: first how mirrors, lenses and filters are fabricated. Finally we look at practical optical design and construction of many systems ranging from the simple microscopes, reflecting and refracting telescopes, achromatic optical elements, up to multi element photographic lenses, and digital cameras.  In the lab the students will learn how use basic optical benches, lens setups, and measurement tools.

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Last updated Jan. 9, 2008