Fresnel diffraction: half-period zones and zone plates
Fresnel integrals. Application of Cornu’s spiral to the analysis of diffraction at a straight edge and by a long narrow slit. Diffraction by a circular aperture and the Airy pattern
Polarisation and Modern Optics: Production and detection of linearly and circularly polarised light. Double refraction, a quarter-wave plate
Optical activity. Principles of fibre optics attenuation; pulse dispersion in step-index and parabolic index fibres; material dispersion, single mode fibres. Lasers
Einstein A and B coefficients. Ruby and He-Ne lasers. Characteristics of laser light-spatial and temporal coherence. Focusing on laser beams. Three-level scheme for laser operation.