Optics (MATR329), Spring 2026
Lecturer: D. Sc. (Tech.) Patrick Grahn, firstname.jh.lastname@helsinki.fi
Assistants:
Petri Lassila (M.Sc.), firstname.j.lastname@helsinki.fi
News
Course info
Course code: MATR329
Scope: 10 cr.
Exam: TBA
Literature: E. Hecht: Optics, Pearson 2017, 5th Ed. (or older)
Chapters covered during the course:
- Wave Motion (Chapter 2)
- Superposition of Waves (Chapter 7)
- Electromagnetic Waves & Propagation (Chapters 3 & 4)
- Scattering & Dispersion (Chapters 4.2, 4.8)
- Polarization (Chapter 8)
- Interference (Chapter 9)
- Geometrical Optics (Chapter 5 & 6)
- Diffraction (Chapter 10)
- Fourier Optics (Chapter 11)
- Coherence (Chapter 12)
Timing in studies: 2nd-3rd year.
Prerequisites: First year electromagnetism and calculus (MAPU).
Evaluation: 60% Exam and 40% exercises. Minimum requirement for passing the course is 50% of points in both exam and exercises. Perfect lecture attendance gives a total of 10% bonus points .
Lectures
Mondays 12.15 – 14.00 D117 (starting 12.1.2026)
Course Description
This course covers the principles of physical optics and geometrical optics. The main goal is to study the fundamentals of light and the interaction of light with matter. Modern simulation tools for optics design are introduced as well. The general topics to be covered include: electromagnetic theory, propagation of light, geometrical optics, paraxial theory, polarization, interference, coherence and diffraction of light.