RS201A Optics: Fall 2005

Mon: 6-9pm, RM 343E

Notes & Suggested readings:

  • Some files are password protected for copyright reasons. Please contact me if you are having trouble accessing them.

    1. 2005.09.15Optics e-book
      Optics from Serway & Jewett
      Feynman Lectures Vol. 1 / Vol. 2 / Vol. 3

      Electronic versions of optics and physics books. The optics chapters in Feynman are primarily in Vol 1.

    2. 2005.09.15 Bob Miller's Light Walk (Exploratorium)
      Pinhole photography @ photo.net
      Larry Kagan's "Shadow Sculptures"
      artists on science: scientists on art
      Leonardo (access via NYU libraries)

      Assorted links and articles related to shadows, pinhole cameras and the interplay of science and art.

    3. 2005.09.21 The Optics Project (Java Applets)
      Mechanical Universe (free registration)

      The Mechanical Universe episodes related to optics or optical themes are #18, 40, 41 & 50

    4. 2005.09.26 Newton's Decomposition of Sunlight

      A description of the famous experiment with prisms.

    5. 2005.10.10 Young's Double-slit Experiment
      Steward Observatory Mirror Lab
      Mapping vector fields (Java/PC)

      Link to the Steward Observatory Mirror Lab where you can see how they "spin-cast" the world's largest astronomical mirrors. The vector field applet was written for an E&M class at MIT and allows you construct your own fields (science + eye candy).

    6. 2005.10.17 Noise-cancelling headphones
      Gravity waves @ AMNH
      LIGO (for the general public)

    7. 2005.10.24 Digital Microfluidics @ Duke
      Varioptic Liquid Lenses
      Philips Fluid Lenses
      Fogscreen (floating projections)
      Heliodisplay (3D projection)

    8. 2005.10.31 Bacterial Illumination
      Bioluminescence @ UCSB
      Bioglyphs (Art & bioluminescence)
      Atmospheric Optics
      Weather photography
      Ice Halo Simulations (make your own)
      Mirages in Finland

    9. 2005.11.21 Lecture Notes (PDF) [B&W] / [Color]
      Cow Eye Dissection (Exploratorium)
      Eye Evolution (PBS)
      Dan-Erik Nilsson Webpage
      Santiago Ramón y Cajal (Wikipedia)

      Notes and websites related to the physiology of the eye.

    10. 2005.11.28 Lecture Notes (PDF) [B&W] / [Color]
      Eye, Brain & Vision (D. Hubel)
      Richard Gregory
      Various Visual Illusion Sites
      The Secret Life of the Brain (PBS)
      Secrets of the Mind (Nova)

      Notes and links related to cortical physiology and visual illusions.

    Content:

    1. Syllabus

      Course syllabus.

    2. Notes & Readings

      Occasional postings of pdf and powerpoint files related to lectures.

    3. Assignments & Solutions

      HW assignments and solution sets.

    4. Research Project Ideas

      A list (not even close to being exhaustive) of suggested/potential course research projects.

    5. Home

      Course homepage

    Contact Info

    1. Robert Uglesich, PhD
      Mount Sinai School of Medicine
      vox: 212.241.3783
      e-mail: rru[@]camelot[.]mssm[.]edu