6: Optics

The bending of light

For the refraction at a surface : $n_i\sin(\theta_i)=n_t\sin(\theta_t)$ holds where $n$ is the refractive index of the material. Snell’s law is:

$$\frac{n_2}{n_1}=\frac{\lambda_1}{\lambda_2}=\frac{v_1}{v_2}$$

If $\Delta n\leq1$, the change in phase of the light is $\Delta\varphi=0$, if $\Delta n>1$ then: $\Delta\varphi=\pi$. The refraction of light in a material is caused by scattering from atoms. This is described by:

$$n^2=1+\frac{n_{\rm e}e^2}{\varepsilon_0m}\sum_j\frac{f_j}{\omega_{0,j}^2-\omega^2-i\delta\omega}$$

where $n_{\rm e}$ is the electron density and $f_j$ the oscillator strength, for which $\sum\limits_j f_j=1$. From this follows that $v_{\rm g}=c/(1+(n_{\rm e}e^2/2\varepsilon_0m\omega^2))$. From this the equation of Cauchy one can derive: $n=a_0+a_1/\lambda^2$. More generally, it is possible to expand $n$ as: $\displaystyle n=\sum_{k=0}^n\frac{a_k}{\lambda^{2k}}$.

For an electromagnetic wave in general: $n=\sqrt{\varepsilon_{\rm r}\mu_{\rm r}}$.

The path, followed by a light ray in material can be found from Fermat’s principle:

$$\delta\int\limits_1^2 dt=\delta\int\limits_1^2\frac{n(s)}{c}ds=0\Rightarrow \delta\int\limits_1^2 n(s)ds=0$$

Paraxial geometrical optics

Lenses

The Gaussian lens formula can be deduced from Fermat’s principle with the approximations $\cos\varphi=1$ and $\sin\varphi=\varphi$. For the refraction at a spherical surface with radius $R$:

$$\frac{n_1}{v}-\frac{n_2}{b}=\frac{n_1-n_2}{R}$$

where $|v|$ is the distance of the object and $|b|$ the distance of the image. Applying this twice results in:

$$\frac{1}{f}=(n_{\rm l}-1)\left(\frac{1}{R_2}-\frac{1}{R_1}\right)$$

where $n_{\rm l}$ is the refractive index of the lens, $f$ is the focal length and $R_1$ and $R_2$ are the curvature radii of both surfaces. For a double concave lens $R_1<0$, $R_2>0$, for a double convex lens $R_1>0$ and $R_2<0$. Further:

$$\frac{1}{f}=\frac{1}{v}-\frac{1}{b}$$

$D:=1/f$ is called the dioptric power of a lens. For a lens with thickness $d$ and diameter $D$ to a good approximation: $1/f=8(n-1)d/D^2$. For two lenses placed on a line with distance $d$ between them:

$$\frac{1}{f}=\frac{1}{f_1}+\frac{1}{f_2}-\frac{d}{f_1f_2}$$

In these equations the following signs are being used for refraction at a spherical surface, as is seen by an incoming light ray:

 

Quantity	+	-
$R$	Concave surface	Convex surface
$f$	Converging lens	Diverging lens
$v$	Real object	Virtual object
$b$	Virtual image	Real image

Mirrors

For images formed by mirrors

$$\frac{1}{f}=\frac{1}{v}+\frac{1}{b}=\frac{2}{R}+\frac{h^2}{2}\left(\frac{1}{R}-\frac{1}{v}\right)^2$$

where $h$ is the perpendicular distance from the point the light ray hits the mirror to the optical axis. Spherical aberration can be reduced by not using spherical mirrors. A parabolical mirror has no spherical aberration for light rays parallel with the optical axis and is therefore often used for telescopes. The signs used are:

Quantity	+	-
$R$	Concave mirror	Convex mirror
$f$	Concave mirror	Convex mirror
$v$	Real object	Virtual object
$b$	Real image	Virtual image

Principal planes

The nodal points N of a lens are defined inFigure $\PageIndex{1}$. If the lens is surrounded by the same medium on both sides, the nodal points are the same as the principal points H. The plane $\perp$ to the optical axis through the principal points is called the principal plane. If the lens is described by a matrix $m_{ij}$ then for the distances $h_1$ and $h_2$ to the boundary of the lens it holds that:

$$h_1=n\frac{m_{11}-1}{m_{12}}~~,~~~h_2=n\frac{m_{22}-1}{m_{12}}$$

Figure $\PageIndex{1}$: 

Magnification

The linear magnification is defined by: $\displaystyle N=-\frac{b}{v}$

The angular magnification is defined by: $\displaystyle N_{\alpha}=-\frac{\alpha_{\rm syst}}{\alpha_{\rm none}}$

where $\alpha_{\rm sys}$ is the size of the retinal image in the optical system and $\alpha_{\rm none}$ the size of the retinal image outside the system. Further: $N\cdot N_{\alpha}=1$. For a telescope: $N=f_{\rm objective}/f_{\rm ocular}$ holds. The f-number is defined by $f/D_{\rm objective}$.

Matrix methods

A light ray can be described by a vector $(n\alpha,y)$ with $\alpha$ the angle with the optical axis and $y$ the distance to the optical axis. The new position of a light ray interacting with an optical system can be obtained using matrix multiplication:

$$\left(\begin{array}{c}n_2\alpha_2\\y_2\end{array}\right)=M \left(\begin{array}{c}n_1\alpha_1\\y_1\end{array}\right)$$

where ${\rm Tr}(M)=1$. $M$ is a product of elementary matrices. These are:

1. Transfer along length $l$: $\displaystyle M_{\rm R}= \left(\begin{array}{cc}1&0\\l/n&1\end{array}\right)$
2. Refraction at a surface with dioptric power $D$: $\displaystyle M_{\rm T}=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1&-D\\0&1\end{array}\right)$

Aberrations

Lenses usually do not give a perfect image. Some causes are:

1. Chromatic aberration is caused by the fact that $n=n(\lambda)$. This can be partially corrected with a compound lens which is composed of several lenses with different indicies of refraction $n_i(\lambda)$. Using $N$ lenses makes it possible to obtain the same $f$ for $N$ wavelengths.
2. Spherical aberration is caused by second-order effects which are usually ignored; a spherical surface does not make a perfect lens. Incoming rays far from the optical axis will bend more. Best form lenses can ameliorate spherical aberration.
3. Coma is caused by the fact that the principal planes of a lens are only flat near the principal axis. Further from the optical axis they are curved. This curvature can be either positive or negative.
4. Astigmatism:for each point of an object not on the optical axis the image is an ellipse because the thickness of the lens is not the same everywhere.
5. Field curvature can be corrected by the human eye.
6. Distorsion leads to aberration near the edges of the image. This can be corrected with a combination of positive and negative lenses.

Reflection and transmission

If an electromagnetic wave hits a transparent medium part of the wave will reflect at the same angle as the incident angle, and a part will be refracted at an angle according to Snell’s law. It makes a difference whether the $\vec{E}$ field of the wave is $\perp$ or $\parallel$ w.r.t. the surface. When the coefficients of reflection $r$ and transmission $t$ are defined as:

$$r_\parallel\equiv\left(\frac{E_{0r}}{E_{0i}}\right)_\parallel~,~~ r_\perp\equiv\left(\frac{E_{0r}}{E_{0i}}\right)_\perp~,~~ t_\parallel\equiv\left(\frac{E_{0t}}{E_{0i}}\right)_\parallel~,~~ t_\perp\equiv\left(\frac{E_{0t}}{E_{0i}}\right)_\perp$$

where $E_{0r}$ is the reflected amplitude and $E_{0t}$ the transmitted amplitude. Then the Fresnel equations are:

$$r_\parallel=\frac{\tan(\theta_i-\theta_t)}{\tan(\theta_i+\theta_t)}~~~,~~~ r_\perp =\frac{\sin(\theta_t-\theta_i)}{\sin(\theta_t+\theta_i)}\\$$

$$t_\parallel=\frac{2\sin(\theta_t)\cos(\theta_i)}{\sin(\theta_t+\theta_i)\cos(\theta_t-\theta_i)}~~~,~~~ t_\perp =\frac{2\sin(\theta_t)\cos(\theta_i)}{\sin(\theta_t+\theta_i)}$$

and the following holds: $t_\perp-r_\perp=1$ and $t_\parallel+r_\parallel=1$. If the coefficient of reflection $R$ and transmission $T$ are defined as (with $\theta_i=\theta_r$):

$$R\equiv\frac{I_r}{I_i}~~~\mbox{and}~~~T\equiv\frac{I_t\cos(\theta_t)}{I_i\cos(\theta_i)}$$

with $I=\langle|\vec{S}|\rangle$ it follows that: $R+T=1$. A special case is $r_\parallel=0$. This happens if the angle between the reflected and transmitted rays is $90^\circ$. From Snell’s law it then follows: $\tan(\theta_i)=n$. This angle is called Brewster’s angle. The situation with $r_\perp=0$ is not possible.

Polarization

The polarization is defined as:

$$P=\frac{I_{\rm p}}{I_{\rm p}+I_{\rm u}}=\frac{I_{\rm max}-I_{\rm min}}{I_{\rm max}+I_{\rm min}}$$

where the intensity of the polarized light is given by $I_{\rm p}$ and the intensity of the unpolarized light is given by $I_{\rm u}$. $I_{\rm max}$ and $I_{\rm min}$ are the maximum and minimum intensities when the light passes a polarizer. If polarized light passes through a polarizer Malus law applies: $I(\theta)=I(0)\cos^2(\theta)$ where $\theta$ is the angle of the polarizer.

The state of a light ray can be described by the Stokes-parameters: start with 4 filters where each transmits half the intensity. The first is independent of the polarization, the second and third are linear polarizers with the transmission axes horizontal and at $+45^\circ$, while the fourth is a circular polarizer which is opaque for $L$-states. Then $S_1=2I_1$, $S_2=2I_2-2I_1$, $S_3=2I_3-2I_1$ and $S_4=2I_4-2I_1$.

The state of a polarized light ray can also be described by the Jones vector:

$$\vec{E}=\left(\begin{array}{c} E_{0x}{\rm e}^{i\varphi_x}\\ E_{0y}{\rm e}^{i\varphi_y} \end{array}\right)$$

For the horizontal $P$-state: $\vec{E}=(1,0)$, for the vertical $P$-state $\vec{E}=(0,1)$, the $R$-state is given by $\vec{E}= \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{2}(1,-i)$ and the $L$-state by $\vec{E}= \frac{1}{2} \sqrt{2}(1,i)$. The change in polarization of a light beam after passage through the optical train can be described as $\vec{E}_2=M\cdot\vec{E}_1$. For some types of optical equipment the Jones matrix $M$ is given by:

• Horizontal linear polarizer: $$M=\left(\begin{array}{cc}1&0\\0&0\end{array}\right)$$
• Vertical linear polarizer: $$M=\left(\begin{array}{cc}0&0\\0&1\end{array}\right)$$
• Linear polarizer at $+45^\circ$ $$M= \frac{1}{2} \left(\begin{array}{cc}1&1\\1&1\end{array}\right)$$
• Lineair polarizer at $-45^\circ$ $$M= \frac{1}{2} \left(\begin{array}{cc}1&-1\\-1&1\end{array}\right)$$
• $1/4-\lambda$ plate, fast axis vertical $$M={\rm e}^{i\pi/4}\left(\begin{array}{cc}1&0\\0&-i\end{array}\right)$$
• $1/4-\lambda$ plate, fast axis horizontal $$M={\rm e}^{i\pi/4}\left(\begin{array}{cc}1&0\\0&i\end{array}\right)$$
• Homogenous circular polarizor right $$M= \frac{1}{2} \left(\begin{array}{cc}1&i\\-i&1\end{array}\right)$$
• Homogenous circular polarizer left $$M= \frac{1}{2} \left(\begin{array}{cc}1&-i\\i&1\end{array}\right)$$

Prisms and dispersion

A light ray passing through a prism is refracted twice and aquires a deviation from its original direction $\delta=\theta_i+\theta_{i'}+\alpha$ w.r.t. the incident direction, where $\alpha$ is the apex angle, $\theta_i$ is the angle between the incident angle and a line perpendicular to the surface and $\theta_{i'}$ is the angle between the ray leaving the prism and a line perpendicular to the surface. When $\theta_i$ varies there is an angle for which $\delta$ becomes minimal. For the refractive index of the prism now:

$$n=\frac{\sin(\frac{1}{2}(\delta_{\rm min}+\alpha))}{\sin(\frac{1}{2}\alpha)}$$

The dispersion of a prism is defined by:

$$D=\frac{d\delta}{d\lambda}=\frac{d\delta}{dn}\frac{dn}{d\lambda}$$ where the first factor depends on the shape and the second on the composition of the prism. For the first factor it follows that:

$$\frac{d\delta}{dn}=\frac{2\sin(\frac{1}{2}\alpha)}{\cos(\frac{1}{2}(\delta_{\rm min}+\alpha))}$$

For visible light usually $dn/d\lambda<0$ holds and shorter wavelengths are more strongly bent than longer ones. The refractive index in this region can usually be approximated by Cauchy’s formula.

Diffraction

Fraunhofer diffraction occurs far away from the source(s). The Fraunhofer diffraction of light passing through multiple slits is described by:

$$\frac{I(\theta)}{I_0}=\left(\frac{\sin(u)}{u}\right)^2\cdot \left(\frac{\sin(Nv)}{\sin(v)}\right)^2$$

where $u=\pi b\sin(\theta)/\lambda$, $v=\pi d\sin(\theta)/\lambda$. $N$ is the number of slits, $b$ the width of a slit and $d$ the distance between the slits. The maxima in intensity are given by $d\sin(\theta)=k\lambda$.

The diffraction through a spherical aperture with radius $a$ is described by:

$$\frac{I(\theta)}{I_0}=\left(\frac{J_1(ka\sin(\theta))}{ka\sin(\theta)}\right)^2$$

The diffraction pattern of a rectangular aperture at distance $R$ with length $a$ in the $x$-direction and $b$ in the $y$-direction is described by:

$$\frac{I(x,y)}{I_0}=\left(\frac{\sin(\alpha')}{\alpha'}\right)^2\left(\frac{\sin(\beta')}{\beta'}\right)^2$$

where $\alpha'=kax/2R$ and $\beta'=kby/2R$.

When X rays are diffracted at a crystal  Bragg's Relation holds for the position of  maximum intensity : $2d\sin(\theta)=n\lambda$ where $d$ is the distance between the crystal layers.

Close to the source the Fraunhofer model is invalid because it ignores the angle-dependence of the reflected waves. This is described by the obliquity or inclination factor, which describes the directionality of the secondary emissions: $E(\theta)=\frac{1}{2}E_0(1+\cos(\theta))$ where $\theta$ is the angle w.r.t. the optical axis.

Diffraction limits the resolution of a system. This is the minimum angle $\Delta\theta_{\rm min}$ between two incident rays coming from points far away for which their refraction patterns can be detected separately. For a circular slit: $\Delta\theta_{\rm min}=1.22\lambda/D$ where $D$ is the diameter of the slit.

For a grating: $\Delta\theta_{\rm min}=2\lambda/(Na\cos(\theta_m))$ where $a$ is the distance between two peaks and $N$ the number of peaks. The minimum difference between two wavelengths that gives a separated diffraction pattern in a multiple slit geometry is given by $\Delta\lambda/\lambda=nN$ where $N$ is the number of lines and $n$ the order of the pattern.

Special optical effects

• Birefringence and dichroism. $\vec{D}$ is not parallel with $\vec{E}$ if the polarizability $\vec{P}$ of a material is not equal in all directions. There are at least three directions, the principal axes, in which they are parallel. This results in three refractive indices $n_i$ which can be used to construct Fresnel’s ellipsoid. In the case $n_2=n_3\neq n_1$, which happens e.g. in trigonal, hexagonal and tetragonal crystals there is one optical axis in the direction of $n_1$. Incident light rays can now be split up in two parts: the ordinary wave is linearly polarized $\perp$ the plane through the transmission direction and the optical axis. The extraordinary wave is linearly polarized in the plane through the transmission direction and the optical axis. Dichroism is caused by a differential absorption of the ordinary and extraordinary wave in some materials. Double images occur when the incident ray makes an angle with the optical axis: the extraordinary wave will refract, the ordinary will not.
• Retarders: waveplates and compensators. Incident light will have a phase shift of $\Delta\varphi=2\pi d(|n_0-n_{\rm e}|)/\lambda_0$ if an uniaxial crystal is cut in such a way that the optical axis is parallel with the front and back plane. Here, $\lambda_0$ is the wavelength in vacuum and $n_0$ and $n_{\rm e}$ the refractive indices for the ordinary and extraordinary wave. For a quarter-wave plate: $\Delta\varphi=\pi/2$.
• The Kerr-effect: isotropic, transparent materials can become birefringent when placed in an electric field. In that case, the optical axis is parallel to $\vec{E}$. The difference in refractive indecies in the two directions is given by: $\Delta n=\lambda_0KE^2$, where $K$ is the Kerr constant of the material. If the electrodes have an effective length $\ell$ and are separated by a distance $d$, the retardation is given by: $\Delta\varphi=2\pi K\ell V^2/d^2$, where $V$ is the applied voltage.
• The Pockels or linear electro-optical effect can occur in 20 (from a total of 32) crystal symmetry classes, namely those without a centre of symmetry. These crystals are also piezoelectric: their polarization changes when a pressure is applied and vice versa: $\vec{P}=pd+\varepsilon_0\chi\vec{E}$. The retardation in a Pockels cell is $\Delta\varphi=2\pi n_0^3 r_{63}V/\lambda_0$ where $r_{63}$ is the 6-3 element of the electro-optic tensor.
• The Faraday effect: the polarization of light passing through material with length $d$ and to which a magnetic field is applied in the propagation direction is rotated by an angle $\beta={\cal V}Bd$ where $\cal V$ is the Verdet constant.
• Cerenkov radiation arises when a charged particle with $v_q>v_{\rm f}$ arrives. The radiation is emitted within a cone with an apex angle $\alpha$ with $\sin(\alpha)=c/c_{\rm medium}=c/nv_q$.

The Fabry-Perot interferometer

For a Fabry-Perot interferometer and in general: $T+R+A=1$ where $T$ is the transmission factor, $R$ the reflection factor and $A$ the absorption factor. If $F$ is given by $F=4R/(1-R)^2$ it follows for the intensity distribution:

$$\frac{I_t}{I_i}=\left[1-\frac{A}{1-R}\right]^2\frac{1}{1+F\sin^2(\theta)}$$

The term $[1+F\sin^2(\theta)]^{-1}:={\cal A}(\theta)$ is called the Airy function.

Figure $\PageIndex{2}$: Fabry Perot Interferometer

The width of the peaks at half height is given by $\gamma=4/\sqrt{F}$. The finesse $\cal F$ is defined as ${\cal F}= \frac{1}{2} \pi\sqrt{F}$. The maximum resolution is then given by $\Delta f_{\rm min}=c/2nd{\cal F}$.