Optical Engineering

Participants should join this course because it helps them understand how optics is used in real engineering applications. The course explains optics in a simple and practical way, making it easy to connect theory with real devices and systems. Through hands-on labs and software tools, learners gain useful skills in optical design and analysis. This course is especially helpful for students who want to work in areas like opto-electronics, photonics, imaging, or measurement systems, and who want a strong foundation in optics for their future careers.

Optics is used in many modern technologies, from everyday devices to precise measurement systems. Today, optics is not limited to research labs—it is widely applied in areas like opto-electronics, metrology, and engineering systems that combine optics with electronics and mechanical design.This course introduces the basic ideas of optics in a simple and practical way, suitable for engineering students. It begins with geometric optics, then covers Gaussian optics and wave optics. Real engineering examples are discussed to show how these concepts are used in practice.Along with theory, the course includes a lab component. Students will use optical design software (OSLO) to learn geometric optics through hands-on exercises, and tools like Python or MATLAB to understand wave optics through simulations.
Source - NPTEL NOC IITM

• Introduction to the course and optical engineering basics

• Understanding light as rays in geometric optics

• Refraction of light at a single surface

• Lab: getting started with OSLO optical design software

• Stops and apertures and their role in optical systems

• Clear understanding of aperture stop and field stop

• Lab: hands-on practice using OSLO software

• Image formation using thick lenses

• Ray tracing using matrix method – part 1

• Ray tracing using matrix method – part 2

• Principal planes and focal points in optical systems

• Image formation by lenses and basic formulas

• Lens maker’s formula and its applications

• Paraxial approximation to simplify ray optics

• Fermat’s principle and light path behavior

• Refraction at curved surfaces like lenses and mirrors

• Multiple lens systems and combined optical setups

• Introduction to optical aberrations

• Types of aberrations and their effect on image quality

• Basics of Gaussian optics and beam behavior

• Wave nature of light and wave optics basics

• Interference of light waves

• Diffraction and spreading of light

• Polarization and orientation of light waves

• Engineering applications of interference and diffraction

• Optical instruments such as microscopes and telescopes

• Practical examples of optical instruments

• Basics of lasers and coherent light

• Gaussian laser beams and their properties

• Lab: wave optics demonstrations using Python or MATLAB