ASTR 8800

 Optics in Astronomy

Syllabus

Recommended Textbook:

Introduction to Fourier Optics, 2nd Ed.  by J. W. Goodman

Course Overview:

    This course is designed to present an overview of optics with an emphasis on astronomical instrumentation. and an introduction to optical design.

    The first third of the course will concern ray optics starting with ``1st order'' optics, including basic concepts such as pupils, foci, etc, allowing `back of the envelope' calculations with the abcd matrix approach. We next consider third order optics, including basic aberrations such as spherical, coma, and  astigmatism.  In order to do design work, we next present an introduction to the ZEMAX raytrace software, which will be used for a class project due near the end of the semester.

    In the next third of the course we turn to the general area of  Fourier Optics which uses another set of the properties of light (waves). We will take up topics such as the Sampling Theorem and Scalar Diffraction Theory and applications, and Spatial Frequency Analysis  using the recent edition of the classical monograph by  Goodman.

    In the final third of the course we will discuss some case studies in the design of Astronomical instruments, including Detectors,  Telescopes, Interferometers, Spectrographs, Polarimeters, etc.

    (There may be several guest speakers.)

    We will also have a critique of the class project designs.

Course Lecture Topics:

Introduction, Properties of Light

First Order Optics   

Third Order Optics

Ray Tracing, ZEMAX    

Fourier 

Basic Relations  

Sampling Theorem, etc. 

Scalar Diffraction Theory   

Fourier Optics Applications 

Applications, Holography 

Instruments:  Detectors 

Telescopes         

Spectrographs       

Interferometers    

Polarimetry      

 

Return to: Course Descriptions