Optics

A branch of physics that describes the behaviour of light and the interaction of light with matter.

Classical Optics

• reflection
• refraction
• diffraction
• dispersion
• ray and wave theories of optics
• Fourier optics
• geometric optics of:
• lenses
• mirrors
• prisms

Modern Optics

• quantum optics
• lasers
• holography
• crystal optics
• nonlinear optics

The field of optics usually describes the behaviour of visible, infrared and ultraviolet light; however since light is a electromagnetic wave, analogous phenomena occur in X-rays, microwaves, radio waves, and other forms of electromagnetic radiation. Optics can thus be regarded as a sub-field of electromagnetism