Classical Optics and Electromagnetic Waves

N.E. Bickers

• Publisher: CRC Press
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781040640272
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Electromagnetism
• Index: Biological Sciences

Classical Optics and Electromagnetic Waves offers an exploration of optics, the physics subfield examining light's properties and applications. Beginning with the mathematical foundations of electromagnetic waves in matter, the text develops geometric optics as the short-wavelength limit of Maxwell's Equations, establishing a framework for understanding wavefronts, light rays, and intensity variations. The work progresses methodically through image formation using mirrors and lenses in the paraxial approximation, employing transfer matrices for precise calculations. It thoroughly examines wave propagation through the Huygens-Fresnel and Fresnel-Kirchhoff integrals, comparing scalar and vector-field approaches while demonstrating their reduction to geometric optics. Diffraction receives comprehensive treatment across various scenarios—infinite slits, circular apertures, barriers, and gratings. The text introduces coherence concepts before exploring interference phenomena, developing the amplitude autocorrelation function and its connection to power spectra through the Wiener-Khinchin Theorem. Advanced topics include detailed analysis of Michelson and Fabry-Perot interferometers, thin-film stack calculations using the Abeles transfer matrix technique, Gaussian beam wave functions, optical cavity properties, and Fourier optics. End-of-chapter guided problems, numerous appendices and a glossary of symbols make this an invaluable textbook for intermediate to advanced students of classical optics. Designed as a natural follow-on to Purcell and Morin's Electricity and Magnetism in a three-semester honours sequence, this text bridges introductory electromagnetism and specialized optics coursework. It also serves as a more mathematically rigorous alternative to Hecht's Optics for upper-division students who have completed one or more intermediate-level electromagnetism courses.

Colour figures referred to in the book can be accessed at https://www.routledge.com/Classical-Optics-and-Electromagnetic-Waves/Bickers/p/book/9781032766171.

Key Features:

• Designed as a follow-on resource for students who have previously taken courses in electromagnetism.
• Presents derivations and comments on approximations as they are introduced.
• Includes extensive end-of-chapter guided problems to aid learning.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half-Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Dedication Page
• Contents
• Preface
• Chapter 1 The macroscopic Maxwell equations I: Dielectric materials
• Chapter 2 The macroscopic Maxwell equations II: Bound current and magnetic materials
• Chapter 3 Review of light in vacuum
• Chapter 4 Time-dependent fields in materials and complex permittivity
• Chapter 5 Macroscopic wave equation in matter
• Chapter 6 Reflection and transmission of a plane wave at a dielectric interface
• Chapter 7 Polarization
• Chapter 8 Eikonal approximation and geometric optics
• Chapter 9 Applications of the transport equation: Light intensity
• Chapter 10 Caustic surfaces: Calculational examples
• Chapter 11 Paraxial approximation in geometric optics: Spherical lenses and mirrors
• Chapter 12 Spherical electromagnetic waves: Scalar-wave theory: Huygens–Fresnel integral
• Chapter 13 Fresnel–Kirchhoff integral: Far-field and near-field diffraction regimes
• Chapter 14 Far-field and near-field diffraction by a general aperture
• Chapter 15 Energy conservation in diffraction: Diffraction examples I
• Chapter 16 Diffraction examples II: Circular aperture, lens and mirror
• Chapter 17 Diffraction examples III: Multiple slits and gratings: Resolving power
• Chapter 18 Fourier optics approach to diffraction and optical processing
• Chapter 19 Interference by division of amplitude: Fringe visibility—Interference geometries
• Chapter 20 Interference of multiply reflected waves: Fabry–Perot interferometer—LIGO
• Chapter 21 Coherence: Power spectrum and correlation functions
• Chapter 22 Propagation of light in anisotropic materials
• Chapter 23 Laser optics I: Paraxial wave equation and paraxial spherical waves
• Chapter 24 Laser optics II: Gaussian beam focusing and optical cavities
• Chapter 25 Exact solutions I: Conducting knife edge
• Chapter 26 Exact solutions II: Infinite slit
• Appendix A Delta function representation and Fourier transform theorems
• Appendix B Derivation of the transport equation for geometric optics
• Appendix C Image location and magnification for a thick lens
• Appendix D Optical path length between arbitrary points on opposite sides of a lens
• Appendix E Derivation of the Helmholtz–Kirchhoff identity
• Appendix F Evaluation of the Fresnel–Kirchhoff integral for a general surface in the λ→0 limit
• Appendix G Derivation of a vector-valued analog of the Helmholtz–Kirchhoff identity
• Appendix H Scalar and vector Fresnel–Kirchhoff integrals for two-dimensional problems
• Appendix I Comparison of results from the vector and scalar Helmholtz–Kirchhoff identities
• Appendix J Use of a finite-distance point source to obtain Fraunhofer diffraction
• Appendix K Reflection and transmission for a thin film bounded by two different materials
• Appendix L Reflection and transmission for a plane-parallel plate with thin-film coatings
• Appendix M Transfer matrix technique for the analysis of thin-film stacks
• Glossary of symbols used
• Bibliography
• Index