Waves, Optics and Atomic Physics

Course guarantor:

Petr Novotný

Lecturer:

Petr Novotný, Josef Schmidt

Tutor:

Petr Novotný, Josef Schmidt

Supervisor:

Department of Physics

Synopsis:

Wave phenomena in mechanics and electromagnetism: modes, standing and travelling waves, wave packets indispersive media. Wave optics: polarization, interference, diffraction, coherence. Geometrical optics. Introduction toquantum physics: black body radiation, quantum of energy, photoeffect, the Compton effect, the de Broglie waves,the Schrodinger equation, stationary states and spectra of finite systems.

Requirements:

Completion of the course Mechanics (02MECH) is required. Completion of the course Electricity and Magnetism (02ELMA) is strongly recommended.

Requirements for obtaining zápočet:

- during exercises: maximum of 2 unexcused absences, active participation (work at the board, solved assignments)

- 2 zápočet tests (mid-semester and at the end of the semester, during the lecture time or in a designated slot outside regular teaching): 80 minutes each, 4 problems (4×1 point). A minimum of 5.0 points in total is required

- in case of a justified absence, it is possible to request a make-up test (12 weeks after the regular test)

- after the semester ends, there will be two correction tests in each, one of the two zápočet tests (first or second) can be retaken. The result replaces the previous one, but the threshold for obtaining zápočet (5.0 points) remains unchanged

- Students who obtained zápočet in the previous academic year may have it recognized

Requirements for successful completion of the exam:

- without a recorded zápočet it is not possible to take the exam (an exception may be an early exam date)

- the exam consists of a written part and an oral part, both held on the same day

- the written part lasts 120 minutes and contains 4 problems, grading follows the standard CTU grading scale (i.e. at least 50% is required for grade E), if grade F is obtained, the exam does not continue.

- in case of an exceptionally good result in the standard zápočet tests, it is possible to have the written exam waived; in such a case it is graded A, the point threshold will be determined after the second zápočet test has been graded

- the oral part consists of two topics (one from the general wave part, the other from the electromagnetic part)., if grade F is obtained in even one topic, the entire oral part is considered failed

- the final grade is the arithmetic average of the three partial grades (written part, 2 oral topics)

- if the oral part is failed, the written part must be repeated

Syllabus of lectures:

1. Oscillations of systems of mass points

2. Travelling waves in non-dispersive media

3. Waves in dispersive media

4. Energy and reflection of waves

5. Electromagnetic waves

6. Polarization

7. Interference and diffraction

8. Geometrical optics

9. Black body radiation, photons, de Broglie waves

10. Atomic models and spectra

Syllabus of tutorials:

Solving problems to illustrate the theory from the lecture

Study Objective:

Knowledge:

Physics of mechanical and electromagnetic oscillations and waves, introduction to quantum physics.

Skills:

Solving concrete physical and technical examples concerning oscillations and waves.

Study materials:

Key references:

[1] J. Schmidt: Wave, optics and atomic physics, FJFI electronic textbook, https://physics.fjfi.cvut.cz/~schmijos/en/waves/textbook.php

Recommended references:

[2] F. S. Crawford, Jr.: Berkeley Physics Course 3, Waves, McGraw-Hill, New York 1968.\

[3] H. Georgi: The Physics of Waves, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle River NJ 2015 (http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~hgeorgi/onenew.pdf)

[4] E. Hecht: Optics, Pearson Education Limited, 2017

Note:

Time-table for winter semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

Time-table for summer semester 2025/2026:

Time-table is not available yet

The course is a part of the following study plans:

• Physical Engineering - Computational physics (PS)
• Quantum Technologies (compulsory course in the program)
• Nuclear and Particle Physics (compulsory course in the program)
• Mathematical Engineering - Mathematical Physics (PS)
• Physical Engineering - Plasma Physics and Thermonuclear Fusion (PS)
• Mathematical Engineering - Mathematical Modelling (PS)
• Mathematical Engineering - Mathematical Informatics (PS)
• Physical Engineering - Solid State Engineering (PS)
• Physical Engineering - Laser Technology and Photonics (PS)