A diffraction pattern of 632.8 nm light from a hexagonal diffraction grating. (Photo courtesy of David R. Dunmeyer.)
Instructor(s)
Prof. Cardinal Warde
David Dunmeyer
(Contributor)
MIT Course Number
6.161 / 6.637
As Taught In
Fall 2005
Level
Undergraduate
Course Description
Course Features
Course Description
6.161 offers an introduction to laboratory optics, optical principles, and optical devices and systems. This course covers a wide range of topics, including: polarization properties of light, reflection and refraction, coherence and interference, Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction, holography, imaging and transforming properties of lenses, spatial filtering, two-lens coherent optical processor, optical properties of materials, lasers, electro-optic, acousto-optic and liquid-crystal light modulators, optical detectors, optical waveguides and fiber-optic communication systems. Students engage in extensive oral and written communication exercises. There are 12 engineering design points associated with this subject.
Other Versions
Other OCW Versions
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