PHY2208

UNIVERSITY OF EXETER SCHOOL OF PHYSICS

May 2010

OPTICS Duration: ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES

Answer THREE questions (The maximum marks attainable are indicated in square brackets.)

Materials to be supplied: Physical Constants sheet

Approved calculators are permitted

This is a closed note examination

PHY 2208

1. (i)

Draw a diagram showing the optic axis and the positions of the centre of curvature C and the focal point F for a concave mirror. On your diagram draw the path of a light ray incident on the mirror parallel to the optic axis and hence deduce the relationship between the focal length (f ) and the radius of curvature (R) of the mirror. Write down the Gaussian mirror equation relating the focal length, object distance (s) and image distance (s) and the expression for the magnification. [3,3,3]

(ii)

A concave mirror has a focal length of 30 cm. A thin rod of length 2 cm is placed with its centre on the optic axis and perpendicular to it at a distance of 10 cm from the centre of the mirror. (a) Calculate the resulting position and length of the image. [3,3]

(b) If the rod is now aligned along the optic axis with its centre at 10 cm from the mirror what is the resulting position and length of the image? [5]

Turn Over 2 PHY 2208

2. (i)

(a) State Snells Law of Refraction at a plane interface between two media of refractive indices n1 and n2 and draw a diagram to illustrate the relation. [2,2] (b) Describe what is meant by total internal reflection and write down an expression for the critical angle, [2,1]

(ii)

A ray of light parallel to the base is incident upon an equilateral triangular glass prism of refractive index n and side length L. The height of incidence at A, h, is adjusted so that the ray emerges from the prism at B parallel to and at the same height as the incident ray after undergoing total internal reflection at C, the midpoint of the base, as shown in the diagram below.

If n =

2,
[3] [4] [6]

(a) Calculate the minimum angle for total internal reflection to occur at C. (b) Calculate the corresponding angle of refraction in the prism. (c) Find an expression for the height h.

PHY 2208

3. (i)

Describe the main features and operation of a Michelson interferometer set up in photodetector mode, illustrating your answer with an annotated diagram. [10]

(ii)

When the interferometer is employed to analyze a light source the relation

I 0 (k) I(D)cos(2kD)dD
is utilized, where D is the relative separation of the mirrors. What do I0(k), I(D), and k represent in this equation? (iii) [3]

For a particular light source, the photodetector output is found to be an excellent fit to the function A exp( D ) over a wide range of D values and where A and are constants. Calculate the resulting functional form of the spectral intensity of the source.

[7]

[You will need

exp ( ( i2k)) x dx =( i2k)

0

4.

The intensity of the diffraction pattern of a single slit focused on a screen by a lens of focal lens f is given by the relation

2 kD I( ) = I 0 sin . kD 2
2

(a) Draw an annotated diagram of the set up required to obtain the diffraction pattern and identify the variables , D and k in the expression for I(). [4,2]

(b) Draw a corresponding annotated diagram for I() and give an expression for the position of the zeros of intensity. (ii) [3,3]

The single slit is replaced by two slits identical to the original, separated by a distance W and each illuminated by an independent light source of wavevector k. If the distance of the slit screen from the lens is S estimate the minimum value of W which would allow the resolution of the two slits on the screen. [8]

PHY 2208

5.

Write brief notes on each of the following with particular relation to the wave nature of light (a) Temporal coherence, (b) Plane and circularly polarized light, (c) Birefringence, (d) Blooming of a lens END OF PAPER [6] [3, 3] [4] [4]

PHY 2208