Advanced Optics: Nanostructures and Phase Engineering

This lecture covers advanced topics in optics, focusing on the engineering of phase shifts in nanostructures. The instructor discusses the generalized Snell's law, anomalous reflection, and the introduction of phase shifts in scattered waves using plasmonic V-shaped nanostructures. The lecture also explores negative refraction, the use of mirrors to extend phase shifts, and the Fresnel coefficients for external reflection. Classical optics, specifically blazed gratings, is highlighted as a source of inspiration. Various simulations and models are presented to demonstrate the manipulation of phase and amplitude in optical systems.

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MICRO-420: Selected topics in advanced optics

This course proposes a selection of different facets of modern optics and photonics.

Optics

Optics is the branch of physics that studies the behaviour and properties of light, including its interactions with matter and the construction of instruments that use or detect it. Optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, ultraviolet, and infrared light. Because light is an electromagnetic wave, other forms of electromagnetic radiation such as X-rays, microwaves, and radio waves exhibit similar properties.

Refractive index

In optics, the refractive index (or refraction index) of an optical medium is a dimensionless number that gives the indication of the light bending ability of that medium. The refractive index determines how much the path of light is bent, or refracted, when entering a material. This is described by Snell's law of refraction, n1 sin θ1 = n2 sin θ2, where θ1 and θ2 are the angle of incidence and angle of refraction, respectively, of a ray crossing the interface between two media with refractive indices n1 and n2.

Negative refraction

Negative refraction is the electromagnetic phenomenon where light rays become refracted at an interface that is opposite to their more commonly observed positive refractive properties. Negative refraction can be obtained by using a metamaterial which has been designed to achieve a negative value for (electric) permittivity (ε) and (magnetic) permeability (μ); in such cases the material can be assigned a negative refractive index. Such materials are sometimes called "double negative" materials.

Refraction

In physics, refraction is the redirection of a wave as it passes from one medium to another. The redirection can be caused by the wave's change in speed or by a change in the medium. Refraction of light is the most commonly observed phenomenon, but other waves such as sound waves and water waves also experience refraction. How much a wave is refracted is determined by the change in wave speed and the initial direction of wave propagation relative to the direction of change in speed.

Negative-index metamaterial

Negative-index metamaterial or negative-index material (NIM) is a metamaterial whose refractive index for an electromagnetic wave has a negative value over some frequency range. NIMs are constructed of periodic basic parts called unit cells, which are usually significantly smaller than the wavelength of the externally applied electromagnetic radiation. The unit cells of the first experimentally investigated NIMs were constructed from circuit board material, or in other words, wires and dielectrics.

General Physics: Quantum - Refractive Indices and Optics PHYS-207(c): General physics : quanta

Explores refractive indices, laws of refraction, and optical instruments.

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Covers the fundamentals of electromagnetic waves and optics, including interference phenomena, diffraction, refraction, and reflection of light.

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Explores how light rays are refracted in a diving suit optics scenario.

Maxwell's Equations and Wave Propagation MICRO-321: Optical engineering

Explores Maxwell's equations, wave propagation, impedance, energy flux, Snell's law, and Fresnel coefficients in optics.