Optics Obstacle Course - Revision history

Admin at 21:05, 28 May 2026

2026-05-28T21:05:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:05, 28 May 2026
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	# Read about coherence theory in Hecht's ''Optics'' Chpts 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3. Measure the laser's coherence length (ask instructor or TA for help).		# Read about coherence theory in Hecht's ''Optics'' Chpts 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3. Measure the laser's coherence length (ask instructor or TA for help).
	# Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities: Read about FP cavities in ''Hecht'' sections 9.6 and 9.6.1. Pay attention to the concepts of Finesse, Free Spectral Range (FSR) and Resolution.		# Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities: Read about FP cavities in ''Hecht'' sections 9.6 and 9.6.1. Pay attention to the concepts of Finesse, Free Spectral Range (FSR) and Resolution.
	## Use the [http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse/ ''Finesse/Luxor''] software package ~~(already downloaded and located in the user's home directory on lab computer ''hank'' - run Luxor.jar in the FinesseLuxor directory)~~ to simulate a FP cavity. Explore how the cavity Finesse, FSR and Resolution depend upon the mirror reflectivity and mirror spacing.		## Use the [http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse/ ''Finesse/Luxor''] software package to simulate a FP cavity. Explore how the cavity Finesse, FSR and Resolution depend upon the mirror reflectivity and mirror spacing. (optional - may experience software troubles)
	## Assume the cavity mirrors are planar with a power (not amplitude) reflectivity of 90% (R = 0.9). Calculate the cavity finesse assuming an on-axis light beam.		## Assume the cavity mirrors are planar with a power (not amplitude) reflectivity of 90% (R = 0.9). Calculate the cavity finesse assuming an on-axis light beam. (optional)
	## Construct a plane-mirror Fabry-Perot with a Free Spectral Range (FSR) of 500MHz and a Finesse >= 20. What is the cavity resolution?		## Construct a plane-mirror Fabry-Perot with a Free Spectral Range (FSR) of 500MHz and a Finesse >= 20. What is the cavity resolution? (optional)
	## Construct a plane-mirror Fabry-Perot with a Free Spectral Range (FSR) of 1 GHz and a Finesse >= 20. What is the cavity resolution?		## Construct a plane-mirror Fabry-Perot with a Free Spectral Range (FSR) of 1 GHz and a Finesse >= 20. What is the cavity resolution? (optional)
	## Is the finesse of your cavity equal to the calculated finesse? If not, why?		## Is the finesse of your cavity equal to the calculated finesse? If not, why? (optional)
			## Construct a scanning spherical-mirror Fabry-Perot cavity using special 10cm focal length mirrors (see instructor). Be sure to calculate the mirror spacing first i.e., the mirror's radius of curvature.
	## What are the practical limits on the achievable finesse? In other words, what is the limit of achievable cavity resolution?<br><br>		## What are the practical limits on the achievable finesse? In other words, what is the limit of achievable cavity resolution?<br><br>
	#Aberrations: Read ''Hecht'' Chpt 5.1, 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 6.3.1, 6.3.2, (stopping at page 272). Pay especial attention to the concepts of "diffraction-limited", "aspherical surfaces", "spherical surfaces", "optical axis", "aberrations", "paraxial rays", "Gaussian optics", "Seidel aberrations", "spherical aberration", "circle of least confusion", "coma", "astigmatism", "field curvature", "distortion", "chromatic aberrations".		#Aberrations: Read ''Hecht'' Chpt 5.1, 5.2, 5.2.1, 5.2.2, 6.3.1, 6.3.2, (stopping at page 272). Pay especial attention to the concepts of "diffraction-limited", "aspherical surfaces", "spherical surfaces", "optical axis", "aberrations", "paraxial rays", "Gaussian optics", "Seidel aberrations", "spherical aberration", "circle of least confusion", "coma", "astigmatism", "field curvature", "distortion", "chromatic aberrations".

Bsboggs: /* Activities */

2023-11-28T22:36:48Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:36, 28 November 2023
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	##Align the axis of the quarter waveplate so that the beam is circularly polarized. How do you know it’s circular and not elliptical?		##Align the axis of the quarter waveplate so that the beam is circularly polarized. How do you know it’s circular and not elliptical?
	#Build a 1:2 telescope to expand the beam		#Build a 1:2 telescope to expand the beam
	# Use a 200 micron pinhole, the photodiode and a translation stage (scan the beam in the transverse direction) to measure the 1/e width of the collimated laser beam.		# Use a 200 micron pinhole, the photodiode and a translation stage (scan the beam in the transverse direction) to measure the 1/e width of the collimated laser beam. See here for info on using translation stages - https://june.uoregon.edu/mediawiki/index.php/How_to_Read_a_Micrometer.
	## Draw a simple ray diagram to estimate the magnification you expect for the two supplied lenses		## Draw a simple ray diagram to estimate the magnification you expect for the two supplied lenses
	## Be sure to position the lenses so the beam is centered (hint: you should do this by observing the output beam location, not merely by eyeballing where the beam hits the lens)		## Be sure to position the lenses so the beam is centered (hint: you should do this by observing the output beam location, not merely by eyeballing where the beam hits the lens)

Bsboggs at 21:12, 5 May 2022

2022-05-05T21:12:13Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:12, 5 May 2022
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	# Read about polarization in the Hecht ''Optics'' book. [[Media:Optics_polarizer.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore polarizers]]. Use two mirrors to set the beam height to a level 4” above optical table. Is the light polarized? If not, polarize it, aligning the axis of polarization vertically.		# Read about polarization in the Hecht ''Optics'' book. [[Media:Optics_polarizer.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore polarizers]]. Use two mirrors to set the beam height to a level 4” above optical table. Is the light polarized? If not, polarize it, aligning the axis of polarization vertically.
	# Read about Brewster's angle in Hecht. [[Media:Waves_brewster.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore Brewster's angle.]]		# Read about Brewster's angle in Hecht. [[Media:Waves_brewster.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore Brewster's angle.]]
	# Use a glass microscope cover slip on a rotation stage and the laser horizontally polarized to measure Brewster's angle (based on power and/or polarization measurements). From the measured Brewster's angle calculate the cover slip's index of refraction. Calculate the Brewster's angle assuming a glass index of refraction of 1.25. Does your measured Brewster's angle agree?		# Use a glass microscope cover slip on a rotation stage and the laser horizontally polarized to measure Brewster's angle (based on power and/or polarization measurements). From the measured Brewster's angle calculate the cover slip's index of refraction. Calculate the Brewster's angle assuming a glass index of refraction of 1.5. Does your measured Brewster's angle agree?
	# Read sections 3.1-3.5 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.		# Read sections 3.1-3.5 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.
	# Use mirrors to pass beam through two irises (or two beam alignment cards), aligned along a row of holes on the table. <br>You now have a level beam with set polarization that is pointing in a known direction. This is an appropriately initialized optical setup.		# Use mirrors to pass beam through two irises (or two beam alignment cards), aligned along a row of holes on the table. <br>You now have a level beam with set polarization that is pointing in a known direction. This is an appropriately initialized optical setup.

Bsboggs: /* Activities */

2018-11-14T20:45:25Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:45, 14 November 2018
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	# Read about polarization in the Hecht ''Optics'' book. [[Media:Optics_polarizer.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore polarizers]]. Use two mirrors to set the beam height to a level 4” above optical table. Is the light polarized? If not, polarize it, aligning the axis of polarization vertically.		# Read about polarization in the Hecht ''Optics'' book. [[Media:Optics_polarizer.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore polarizers]]. Use two mirrors to set the beam height to a level 4” above optical table. Is the light polarized? If not, polarize it, aligning the axis of polarization vertically.
	# Read about Brewster's angle in Hecht. [[Media:Waves_brewster.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore Brewster's angle.]]		# Read about Brewster's angle in Hecht. [[Media:Waves_brewster.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore Brewster's angle.]]
	# Use a glass microscope cover slip on a rotation stage and the laser polarized ~~at 45 degrees~~ to measure Brewster's angle (based on power and/or polarization measurements). From the measured Brewster's angle calculate the cover slip's index of refraction. Calculate the Brewster's angle assuming a glass index of refraction of 1.25. Does your measured Brewster's angle agree?		# Use a glass microscope cover slip on a rotation stage and the laser horizontally polarized to measure Brewster's angle (based on power and/or polarization measurements). From the measured Brewster's angle calculate the cover slip's index of refraction. Calculate the Brewster's angle assuming a glass index of refraction of 1.25. Does your measured Brewster's angle agree?
	# Read sections 3.1-3.5 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.		# Read sections 3.1-3.5 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.
	# Use mirrors to pass beam through two irises (or two beam alignment cards), aligned along a row of holes on the table. <br>You now have a level beam with set polarization that is pointing in a known direction. This is an appropriately initialized optical setup.		# Use mirrors to pass beam through two irises (or two beam alignment cards), aligned along a row of holes on the table. <br>You now have a level beam with set polarization that is pointing in a known direction. This is an appropriately initialized optical setup.

Bsboggs: /* Activities */

2018-05-09T20:10:14Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:10, 9 May 2018
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	- Debrief with the instructor concerning your efforts, observations and measurements of the obstacle course.<br>		- Debrief with the instructor concerning your efforts, observations and measurements of the obstacle course.<br>

	After you finish, please return items to the storage location and clear the 'sandbox' area.		After you finish, please return items to the storage location and clear the 'sandbox' area.<br>
	* '''CLEAN UP THE OBSTACLE COURSE SETUP AFTER USE'''		* '''CLEAN UP THE OBSTACLE COURSE SETUP AFTER USE'''


	~~'''Notes:'''<br>~~
	* ''Considering the Fresnel relations on the reflection of light off a strongly absorbing medium - linearly polarized light is usually elliptically polarized after reflection off a metallic mirror except for the cases where the incoming polarization is parallel or perpendicular to the plane of incidence.''

Bsboggs: /* Activities */

2018-05-09T20:09:21Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:09, 9 May 2018
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	- Debrief with the instructor concerning your efforts, observations and measurements of the obstacle course.<br>		- Debrief with the instructor concerning your efforts, observations and measurements of the obstacle course.<br>
	~~- Submit a write-up outlining your activities, results and the answers to all the questions asked above.~~

	After you finish, please return items to the storage location and clear the 'sandbox' area.		After you finish, please return items to the storage location and clear the 'sandbox' area.

Aplstudent: /* Activities */

2018-04-18T21:48:38Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:48, 18 April 2018
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	# Read about polarization in the Hecht ''Optics'' book. [[Media:Optics_polarizer.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore polarizers]]. Use two mirrors to set the beam height to a level 4” above optical table. Is the light polarized? If not, polarize it, aligning the axis of polarization vertically.		# Read about polarization in the Hecht ''Optics'' book. [[Media:Optics_polarizer.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore polarizers]]. Use two mirrors to set the beam height to a level 4” above optical table. Is the light polarized? If not, polarize it, aligning the axis of polarization vertically.
	# Read about Brewster's angle in Hecht. [[Media:Waves_brewster.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore Brewster's angle.]]		# Read about Brewster's angle in Hecht. [[Media:Waves_brewster.jar \| Download and run this applet to explore Brewster's angle.]]
	# Use a glass microscope cover slip on a rotation stage and the laser polarized at 45 degrees to measure Brewster's angle (based on power and/or polarization measurements). From the measured Brewster's angle calculate the ~~glass slide~~'s index of refraction.		# Use a glass microscope cover slip on a rotation stage and the laser polarized at 45 degrees to measure Brewster's angle (based on power and/or polarization measurements). From the measured Brewster's angle calculate the cover slip's index of refraction. Calculate the Brewster's angle assuming a glass index of refraction of 1.25. Does your measured Brewster's angle agree?
	# Read sections 3.1-3.5 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.		# Read sections 3.1-3.5 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.
	# Use mirrors to pass beam through two irises (or two beam alignment cards), aligned along a row of holes on the table. <br>You now have a level beam with set polarization that is pointing in a known direction. This is an appropriately initialized optical setup.		# Use mirrors to pass beam through two irises (or two beam alignment cards), aligned along a row of holes on the table. <br>You now have a level beam with set polarization that is pointing in a known direction. This is an appropriately initialized optical setup.

Bsboggs: /* Activities */

2018-03-09T20:53:53Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:53, 9 March 2018
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	# Use a mini fiber-coupled spectrometer to obtain the center wavelength and an upper bound on the linewidth of the laser. Have a discussion with the TA or instructor about the concept of linewidth.		# Use a mini fiber-coupled spectrometer to obtain the center wavelength and an upper bound on the linewidth of the laser. Have a discussion with the TA or instructor about the concept of linewidth.
	# Read sections 5.1-5.4 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.		# Read sections 5.1-5.4 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.
	# Read about a Michelson interferometer in Hecht ''Optics''. [[Interferometers \| See this page for more infomation]]. Build a Michelson interferometer (with a non-polarizing beamsplitter) and measure the laser wavelength. Now use the Michelson to measure the index of refraction of 1) a glass microscope slide and 2) an unknown optical material (ask instructor).		# Read about a Michelson interferometer in Hecht ''Optics''. [[Interferometers \| See this page for more infomation]]. Build a Michelson interferometer (with a non-polarizing beamsplitter) and measure the laser wavelength. Now use the Michelson to measure the index of refraction of 1) a glass microscope slide and 2) an unknown optical material (ask instructor). (Leave the Michelson set up for next activity)
			# Read about coherence theory in Hecht's ''Optics'' Chpts 12.1, 12.2 and 12.3. Measure the laser's coherence length (ask instructor or TA for help).
	# Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities: Read about FP cavities in ''Hecht'' sections 9.6 and 9.6.1. Pay attention to the concepts of Finesse, Free Spectral Range (FSR) and Resolution.		# Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities: Read about FP cavities in ''Hecht'' sections 9.6 and 9.6.1. Pay attention to the concepts of Finesse, Free Spectral Range (FSR) and Resolution.
	## Use the [http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse/ ''Finesse/Luxor''] software package (already downloaded and located in the user's home directory on lab computer ''hank'' - run Luxor.jar in the FinesseLuxor directory) to simulate a FP cavity. Explore how the cavity Finesse, FSR and Resolution depend upon the mirror reflectivity and mirror spacing.		## Use the [http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse/ ''Finesse/Luxor''] software package (already downloaded and located in the user's home directory on lab computer ''hank'' - run Luxor.jar in the FinesseLuxor directory) to simulate a FP cavity. Explore how the cavity Finesse, FSR and Resolution depend upon the mirror reflectivity and mirror spacing.

Bsboggs: /* Permanent Materials (located on optical breadboard or in storage cabinet): */

2018-02-23T20:52:14Z

Permanent Materials (located on optical breadboard or in storage cabinet):

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:52, 23 February 2018
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	- Helium Neon laser <br>		- Helium Neon laser <br>
	- 4 mirrors <br>		- 4 mirrors <br>
	- Telescope lens pair (Newport KPX.097 and KPX.085)<br>		- [[Media:Lenskit1.jpg \| Telescope lens pair (Newport KPX.097 and KPX.085)]]<br>
	- 3 irises and a pinhole<br>		- 3 irises and a pinhole<br>
	- Quarter waveplate @633<br>		- Quarter waveplate @633<br>

Bsboggs: /* Activities */

2018-02-23T20:46:18Z

Activities

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:46, 23 February 2018
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	# Use a mini fiber-coupled spectrometer to obtain the center wavelength and an upper bound on the linewidth of the laser. Have a discussion with the TA or instructor about the concept of linewidth.		# Use a mini fiber-coupled spectrometer to obtain the center wavelength and an upper bound on the linewidth of the laser. Have a discussion with the TA or instructor about the concept of linewidth.
	# Read sections 5.1-5.4 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.		# Read sections 5.1-5.4 of ''Laboratory Optics'' ebook.
	# Read about a Michelson interferometer in Hecht ''Optics''. [[Interferometers \| See this page for more infomation]]. Build a Michelson interferometer (with a non-polarizing beamsplitter) and measure the laser wavelength. Now use the Michelson to measure the index of refraction of a glass microscope slide.		# Read about a Michelson interferometer in Hecht ''Optics''. [[Interferometers \| See this page for more infomation]]. Build a Michelson interferometer (with a non-polarizing beamsplitter) and measure the laser wavelength. Now use the Michelson to measure the index of refraction of 1) a glass microscope slide and 2) an unknown optical material (ask instructor).
	# Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities: Read about FP cavities in ''Hecht'' sections 9.6 and 9.6.1. Pay attention to the concepts of Finesse, Free Spectral Range (FSR) and Resolution.		# Fabry-Perot (FP) cavities: Read about FP cavities in ''Hecht'' sections 9.6 and 9.6.1. Pay attention to the concepts of Finesse, Free Spectral Range (FSR) and Resolution.
	## Use the [http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse/ ''Finesse/Luxor''] software package (already downloaded and located in the user's home directory on lab computer ''hank'' - run Luxor.jar in the FinesseLuxor directory) to simulate a FP cavity. Explore how the cavity Finesse, FSR and Resolution depend upon the mirror reflectivity and mirror spacing.		## Use the [http://www.gwoptics.org/finesse/ ''Finesse/Luxor''] software package (already downloaded and located in the user's home directory on lab computer ''hank'' - run Luxor.jar in the FinesseLuxor directory) to simulate a FP cavity. Explore how the cavity Finesse, FSR and Resolution depend upon the mirror reflectivity and mirror spacing.