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The aim of this module is to develop a solid understanding of the principles of Physical Optics and introduce astronomical telescopes, instrumentation & techniques.
Optics: Interference, Young's double slit experiment, phasor addition of waves, multiple slits, interference in thin films, Michelson interferometer; Diffraction, single slit, circular aperture, resolution, diffraction grating, spectral resolution; Polarization, Brewster's angle, law of Malus.
Astronomical instrumentation: Telescopes, resolution, aberrations, atmospheric seeing, Schmidt telescope, active optics, adaptive optics, optical detectors; Radio telescopes, interferometry; X-ray telescopes, other wavebands.
This module specifically addresses the following topics of the Core of Physics, as defined by Institute of Physics:
- Interference and diffraction at single and multiple apertures
- Dispersion by prisms and diffraction gratings
- Optical Cavities and laser action
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