Photonics and Optics Fundamentals, acad. year 2026-2027
- Credits:
- 4 ECTS credits
- Location:
- -
- Continuous learning category:
- Environmental and natural sciences
- Teaching format:
- Online teaching, Distance teaching, Independent learning
- Price:
- 80 € (VAT 0%)
This is an advanced-level course; in Finnish we'd say "syventäviä opintoja". See below for the background you should have.
After completing the course, the student will be able to
- Understand the importance of light and photonics
- Understands the nature of light as waves and photons.
- Understands the polarization of light.
- Understands how one can control the polarization of light with different components.
- Understands emission, absorption, and scattering of light.
- Understands reflection and refraction of light
- Can calculate the direction and the magnitude of reflected and refracted light for a planar interface.
- Understands the interference of light.
- Understands the double-slit experiment.
- Understands the principle of and interferometer.
- Can calculate the directions of the diffraction orders after the diffraction grating.
- Can calculate the field after a simple aperture system.
- Understands the connection between the geometrical and wave approach of light propagation.
- Can analyze light in simple optical components like lenses and mirrors.
- Understands imaging in a simple optical system.
- Can calculate imaging in a simple lens or mirror system.
- Understands how one can characterize the quality of imaging.
- Knows what are the aberrations in an imaging system.
You should know the following before coming to this course; but there are sections in the course material that you can use to update your knowledge on those topics:
- Basics of mechanics like energy, potential, and momentum.
- Basics of linear algebra and matrices.
- Basics of electromagnetism.
- Basic calculation with complex numbers and complex functions.
- Basics of differential and integral calculation.
- Basics of trigonometry.
- Vectors and calculations with those.
- Also it is helpful to understand the basics of quantum mechanics like the quantization of energy.
Simply put, if you can deal with intermediate-level university physics ("aineopinnot"), you'll be just fine.
In Finnish, this course is called "Fotoniikan ja optiikan perusteet", but this version is written and taught in English.
Modes of study: Online self-learning of the material and an online exam, on your own schedule.
Teaching methods: Online course available from the 7th of September to the end of July. Studying consists of guided learning in the online environment and completing the corresponding online exercises. For each topic there will be an optional online help session in September and October; see their schedule here.
Grading: pass / fail. Passing the course requires 70% of the exercises for each lecture's exercise set, and after that at least 50% of the final exam (online).
Study materials: The course material is fully available online. You can peek at the materials here.
Our studies cost 20 e/ECTS credit; these prices hold for the academic year 2026-2027.
For more information on study fees and payment and cancellation terms, please see: Registration, study fees and right to study | University of Eastern Finland (uef.fi). Right to study will cover the lessons and exams.
Fees for purchasing/lending literature are not covered by the University.
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