Electrodynamics and Optics; Spring 2001

Homework 1 - Due Friday, 02/09, 5 pm.

1. The electric field of an ultrashort pulse at time zero in free space (no dispersion!) is given by the equation:

Derive the expression for the electric field at an arbitrary time t.

2. Use Fermat's principle to derive the law of refraction (q_incident=q_reflected) by using calculus to minimize the transit time.

and problems 3.10, 3.13, 3.42 and 4.21