Optics Laboratory
Code: 100159Credits: 5
| Degree programme | Type | Course |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | OB | 3 |
Contact lecturer
- Name :
- Irene Estevez Caride
- Email :
- irene.estevez@uab.cat
Teaching staff
- Neus Garreta Passola
- Jano Gil Lopez
- Judit Bisbal Amat
- Octavi Lopez Coronado
- Angel Lizana Tutusaus
Teaching staff (external to UAB)
- Ignacio Moreno Soriano
Group languages
You can consult this information at the end of the document.
Prerequisites
It is recommended to be studying or to have studied the subject of OPTICS.
Objectives
1. Apply the fundamental laws and theoretical principles acquired by the student in the Optics course.
2. Familiarize the student with an experimental subject: importance of instrumentation in the design of experiments, use of measuring devices, data acquisition, data analysis, etc.
3. Know how to analyse the influence and importance of the various variables and their dependence on the phenomenon studied and/or analysed.
4. To awaken in the student a critical mentality with respect to the level of confidence of his measurements, calculations and the interpretation of the results.
5. Motivate the student in the bibliographic search to interpret the experimental results and / or delve into other approaches on a particular experiment.
6. Encourage experimental work and scientific discussion in groups.
Learning outcomes
- Communicate complex information in an effective, clear and concise manner, either orally, in writing or through ICTs, in front of both specialist and general publics.
- Use critical reasoning, show analytical skills, correctly use technical language and develop logical arguments
- Describe the function and manner of operation of the measuring instruments used.
- Analyse and assess the adequacy of the assemblies prepared and carried out, in order to obtain measurements and the desired results.
- Determine and measure the variables that describe a physical system.
- Correctly assess the uncertainty associated with a measure or set of measures.
- Suitably present the results of a series of measures through graphs and perform linear regressions.
- Discriminate to the most important dependencies and draw the most conclusions from a set of experimental measurements.
- Use digital sensors for measuring magnitudes.
- Analyse the influence of various parameters on the simulation of an experiment.
- Use basic programmes to write reports and carry out basic data processing.
- Describe physical phenomena, identify variables, analyse the influence, presenting the results and conclusions of the work developed in a clear and precise manner.
- Foster discussion and critical thinking, evaluating the precision and characteristics of the results obtained.
- Write and present the results and conclusions of experimental work with rigor and conciseness.
- Work independently, take initiative itself, be able to organize to achieve results and to plan and execute a project.
- Working in groups, assume shared responsibilities and interact professionally and constructively with others, showing absolute respect for their rights.
- Identify the social, economic and environmental implications of academic and professional activities within one's own area of knowledge.
- Explain the explicit or implicit code of practice of one's own area of knowledge.
Contents
The subject, which is eminently practical, consists of a theoretical part and a practical part.
The theoretical part delves into some important aspects of diffraction, interference, instrumentation, optical systems, precision, etc., which are later seen in the practical sessions.
The 10 practical sessions to be carried out are:
1.- Geometrical optics. Images, the telescope as an optical system.
2.- Thin lenses and optical instruments.
3.- Measurement of the refractive index: Application to the measurement of a plane-parallel plate with the microscope, of liquids with the Abbe refractometer, and with the Pfund method.
4.- Interferences by amplitude division. The Michelson interferometer.
5.- Interferences by wavefront division. Fresnel biprism. Qualitative study with a white light source. Determination of the wavelength of a monochromatic light.
6.- Fresnel diffraction and Fraunhofer diffraction.
7.- Spectroscopy with a diffraction grating. Calibration of the grating with a lamp of known wavelengths. Determination of the Rydberg constant from the Balmer series of hydrogen.
8.- Optical spectra. Determination of wavelengths with a prism spectroscope.
9.- Polarization of light and study of anisotropic and photoelastic media. Verification of Malus's law.
10.- Photoelectric effect. Determination of the Planck constant.
Learning activities and methodology
| Title | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| theory lectures | 10 | 0.4 | 3, 6, 7, 9, 12 |
| Preparation and report writing | 82 | 3.28 | 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 |
| Laboratory Practices | 30 | 1.2 | 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 16 |
Theoretical Classes:
During the first 3 weeks of the course, 10 hours of theoretical classes will be given as an introduction to the Optics laboratory, where some of the theoretical content of the subject will be developed.
Laboratory Practices:
Students, in groups of 2, will carry out a total of 8 laboratory sessions. The subject will include two types of sessions:
- 6 experimental sessions (sessions 1, 2, 3 and sessions 5, 6, 7): In each of these sessions, a practice will be carried out.
- 2 evaluative sessions (session 4 and session 8): These sessions will include oral questions by groups.
Students will have the practice scripts available in advance for their preparation, through the Virtual Campus.
It is necessary to complete all the sessions in order to pass the course. At the beginning of the course, the dates for the experimental practices will be assigned. Changing practice days is not allowed, except in cases of force majeure and with proper justification.
At the end of each of the 6 experimental sessions, each group must upload to the Virtual Campus the experimental measurements and work carried out in the session, results, conclusions, as well as answer all the questions posed in the laboratory script.
Submission of Personal Report:
Each student must submit a personal report on one of the practices carried out. The personal report, in scientific article format, must consist of the following parts: introduction and objectives, results and discussion, conclusions, bibliography, and answers to the questions posed.
All results obtained in the laboratory must be correctly presented in tables with the corresponding uncertainties andunits. Graphs must be presented with a title, magnitudes, units, and uncertainty bars. If necessary, the corresponding adjustment of the results will be made.
Tutorials:
Throughout the course, discussion between each of the student groups and the teaching staff will be encouraged. The teaching staff of the subject will be available to resolve doubts in tutorial sessions. At the beginning of the course, the contact methods with the teaching staff will be provided to define these possible tutorials.
Use of AI
Restricted use: For this subject, the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies is permitted exclusively for support tasks, such as bibliographic or information research, and will focus on the responsible use of AI. The student must clearly identify which parts have been generated using this technology, specify the tools used, and include a critical reflection on how they have influenced the process and the final outcome. A lack of transparency regarding the use of AI will be considered a breach of academic integrity and may result in a partial or total penalty in the grade, or more severe sanctions in serious cases.
Assessment
Continuous assessment activities
| Title | Weight | Hours | ECTS | Learning outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| personal report | 20 % | 0 | 0 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18 |
| Oral or written defense | 30 % | 2 | 0.08 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16 |
| Group oral assessments | 50% | 1 | 0.04 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18 |
| Block | Weight | Description |
| Personal work | 20% | Evaluation of the individual report based on the chosen practice. |
| Group work | 50% | Evaluation of the work carried out during the experimental sessions through oral tests in the laboratory, in sessions 4 and 8 during laboratory hours. |
| Oral or written defense | 30% | Evaluation of an oral presentation on a new practice or a written exam on the practices carried out. |
It is mandatory to carry out all the practices, in order to have the right to take the oral or written defense.
A minimum score of 3 in each block (personal work, group work and oral or written defense) must be obtained in order to be able to make an average.
Given the eminently practical character of the subject the possibility of recovery is NOT CONTEMPERATED.
All those students who have completed two evaluation activities cannot be qualified as \"Not assessable\".
Informative Note
Committing any irregularity in an assessment activity (academic fraud, plagiarism, or misuse of AI, unless such use is expressly authorized in the course syllabus) that could lead to a significant variation in the grade will result in that activity being graded as a 0. In the event that multiple irregularities occur across assessment activities, the final grade for this course will be 0. Aside from this, disciplinary proceedings may be initiated against any student who commits any of these irregularities.
Bibliography
Theory books:
- K.D. Möller. Optics. University Science Books, 1988
- E. Hecht. Optics. Addison-Wesley, 2017
- F.A. Jenkins, H.E. White. Fundamentals of Optics. McGraw-Hill, 1981
- J. Casas. Óptica. L. Pons. 1994
- M.L. Calvo (ed). Óptica avanzada. Editorial Ariel. 2002
Laboratory practice books:
- M.D. Baró, G. Orriols, F. Pi, R. Pintó i S. Suriñach. Tècniques Experimentals en Física. Col. Materials, 37. Servei de Publicacions de la UAB, Barcelona,1997
- Other books on general topics recommended in previous teaching laboratories
Videography (YouTube list):
- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKIOJCSTg5dqVUJzTnS0oA1eVDjQqFkys
Software
Python, MATLAB, Excel, and any other data processing software.
Course groups and languages
The information provided is provisional until November 30. After this date, you will be able to consult the language of each group through this link. To access the information, you will need to enter the course CODE
| Type of teaching | Group | Language | Semester | Shift |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (TE) Theory | 1 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 1 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori | 1 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 2 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori | 2 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 3 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLABs) Suport a les pràctiques de laboratori | 3 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 4 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 5 | Catalan | second semester | afternoon |
| (PLAB) Practical laboratories | 6 | Catalan | second semester | morning-mixed |