This textbook offers a complete and rigorous presentation of the fundamentals and applications of wave optics. The material of the book covers topics on wave nature of light—reflection, refraction, polarisation, diffraction, dispersion and scattering of electromagnetic waves.
Interference phenomenon is discussed both by division of wavefront and by division of amplitude. Diffraction is classified as Fresnel diffraction and Fraunhofer diffraction. The discussion on Fraunhofer diffraction has been used to explain the theory and resolving power of optical instruments. The role of phenomena of dispersion and scattering of light has been lucidly explained in the field of communication of information, its quality and content. The last three chapters are devoted to the study of the recently developed modern topics—lasers, holography, and fibre optics—all of which have opened up immense opportunities for new applications in almost all branches of science and engineering.
Though the book is intended for the undergraduate students of physics—both honours and general courses—it will also be useful to candidates aspiring to sit the competitive examinations.
KEY FEATURES :
Presents interactive text interspersed with in-text questions to enable students to shift focus on active learning.
Uses access devices such as expected learning outcomes and practice exercises for directed teaching–learning.
Includes numerous worked-out examples to illustrate the concepts and provides review questions to test the students’ understanding of the subject.
Gives chapter-end summary for quick revision of the important results.
SURESH GARG, PhD (University of Delhi), is Professor of Physics at the School of Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi. Earlier, he has been the Pro-Vice Chancellor of IGNOU. He was seconded by the Commonwealth Secretariat as Director, Centre for Learning and Teaching, National University of Lesotho, Roma, in Southern Africa. He worked at Hindu College, Delhi for about 12 years before joining IGNOU. He has published several research papers in national and international journals and guided many PhD students. With more than three decades of teaching experience in India and abroad, Professor Garg has co-authored many textbooks in physics.|SANJAY GUPTA, PhD (University of Delhi), is Senior Lecturer in Physics at the School of Sciences, IGNOU, New Delhi. Earlier, he served as Assistant Director (Research) with the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, and as Research Associate in the Department of Physics and Astrophysics, University of Delhi. He has also been to the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) as Associate Professor at the School of Science and Technology. His research interest is in the area of Neutron Transport. He has published several research papers in national and international journals.|C. K. GHOSH, PhD (University of Calcutta), is Director, National Centre for Innovations in Distance Education, IGNOU, New Delhi. He has held several important positions in the Student Support Services Division of IGNOU. He is also the Nodal Officer of the Integrated MSc-PhD Programme in Physics and Astrophysics under IGNOU—Indian Institute of Astrophysics Collaboration. He has published several research papers.
