COURSE FACT SHEET FOR DEPARTMENTAL PROGRAM REVIEW

1. Title, Course, Number, and Credit Hours. (Explain credit load of course if it is in some way unusual.)

Optics; PHYS 312; 3 credit hours.

2. What is the catalog course description for the course?

Geometical optics; image formation, optical systems, thick lens theory, abeerations; wave optics; superposition, coherence, interference, diffration, dispersion, polarization. Three lectures per week. Prerequisite: Physics 254.

3. What are the prerequisites or other background required of students for this course? Are these requirements adequate?

The prerequisite for this course is Physics 254. This requirement is adequate for the student to successfully complete this course since, by this time, the student should have enough mathematics courses (mathematics 191, 192, 201).

4. How does this course fit into the departmental program?

This course introduces students to the theory of light, and various wave phenomena (diffraction, polarization, etc.) pertaining to the the short wavelengths of light. It is an important topic for all consumer optical devices and scientific optical instruments. It is absolutely necessary for an understanding of modern physics, quantum mechanics, and fundamental theory of the laser (all important for physics majors). It is required of all physics majors.

5. At what type of student is this course aimed? What gaps or needs in the curriculum is this course intended to fill?

This course is aimed primarily at physics and engineering physics majors. However, it is also suitable for advanced engrineering majors with an interest in the applications. It provides the students with training and knowledge in one important, classical area of physics.

6. How is this course important to a particular field of study?

This course deals with theory and applications of wave of extremely short wavelength. It is a classical area of study of physics in the understandings and designs of optical instruments. it is important for a comprehensive understanding of modern physics which deals with wave nature of particles and particle nature of waves.

7. How is this course different from any other courses in the catalog or why must the material covered in the course be treated separately instead of being incorporated into another course?

This course differs from all other courses in the catalog. The subject matter covered in this course and the mathematical level of sophistication are so broad and demanding that it can not be part of any other courses.

8. If this course is similar to another course in the catalog, explain why both courses should exist or suggest whether something should be dropped or changed.

Only a small portion of this course, geometic optics, is similar to PHYS 254; however, even here, the breadth and level of sophistication are much more involved in this course. (PHYS 254 is an introductory course covering--cursorily--geometric optics and other topics.) The course "Optics" is an in-depth study of light.

9. When, how and by whom is this course taught?

This course is offered only on demand. It has three lectures per week. Dr. Yang has been the instructor for this course.

10. Are the current holdings of the O'Keefe Library adequate to support this course or are additional materials needed?

The current holdings of the O'Keefe Library are adequate for this course. Dr. Yang has also had quite a collection of related books and papers. The physics department has two computers and some softwares to help students on complicated and difficult problems encountered in this course.