Course Identification

Detailed description 

This course discusses the interaction of light with solid materials. It will be shown that many important optical properties can be described quite accurately using surprisingly simple models. Initially we will model atoms as classical dipole oscillators (“electrons on springs”). We will use the calculated behavior of these model atoms together with Maxwell’s equations to obtain expressions for the frequency dependent refractive index, absorption, and susceptibility. To improve on our model descriptions we will discuss the foundations of quantum mechanics, and derive a quantum mechanical description of the refractive index.

Once our  “toolbox” is formed, we will apply it to a wide verity of optical phenomena (excitons, luminescence, scattering) in various materials ( Metals, semiconductors & insulators, glasses and molecular solids) and discuss the effect of quantum confinement. 

List of topics

• Maxwell’s equations 
• Classical propagation of light in solids
• Quantum theory of absorption and emission and band theory 
• Interbad absorption 
• Excitons
• Luminescence 
• Free electrons (optical properties of metals)
• Quantum confinement effects 
• Phonons and scattering  

Upon successful completion of the course,  the students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate understanding of the optical properties of a variety of classical materials based on the microscopic mechanisms
2. Explain and calculate the optical properties in terms of Lorentz/Drude oscillators
3. Get an insight in the optical properties of recently developed nanomaterials, based on their classical and quantum-mechanical properties
4. Be familiar with the recent developments in the materials used and the applications emerging in nanophotonics

The course will follow, primarily, the second edition of "Optical Properties of Solids" by Mark Fox (Oxford mater series in condensed matter physics)