With Industrial Fiber Optics' Physical Optics Lab, the study of image processing and Fourier Transforms of optical formations can be practical studies for most high school and undergraduate physics classes. By adding any HeNe laser*, this product enables instructors to provide turnkey exercises to give students an efficient and exciting learning experience in lasers and optics. Using this unique collection of laser accessories with the instruction booklet can show students:

• How double exposures, or even multiple exposures, on photographic slides can be separated into individual photographs
• How noise or other unwanted information can be eliminated from a transparency
• How diffraction patterns can be manipulated to form new images through the process of spatial filtering
• How optical noise is removed from a laser beam by a spatial filter
• How optical components are manipulated to produce a collimated (parallel) beam of light
• How to create and compare Fresnel and Fraunhofer diffraction patterns
• How spatial frequency information is displayed in a Fraunhofer diffraction pattern
• How physical optics can serve as an excellent introduction to the study of Fourier series and Fourier Transforms in optics and math courses

Included is a 61-page, fully-illustrated instruction guide containing six activity modules structured to develop an experimental setup for demonstrating Fourier Transformation. The manual represents a series of optical laboratory activities typically not covered by introductory physics courses in high schools and universities. The goal of the activity series is to demonstrate Fourier Transformation in a way that bridges the gap between mathematical theory and real world application. The manual also includes information about laser safety, optical and Fourier Transforms and additional reference material.

The Physical Optics Lab contains four mounted lenses, eight magnetic mounts with magnetic tape, two mounted front surface mirrors, eight steel "L" mounts (to hold optical components), one 50-micron pinhole, a +15 mm focal lens in threaded cell, two Mylar^® viewing screens, one set of 26 transparencies, instruction booklet and padded carrying case.