Seminar Series: History of Optics
Subject code: NOOE080
Scope: 0/2 Z
Schedule: selected upon agreement
Teacher: Jakub Zázvorka
2026 LOG
23.2.2026
Introduction
Arranged Form of the Seminar:
Reading of Chapters from Olivier Darrigol, A History of Optics: From Greek Antiquity to the Nineteenth Century
and Presentations of the Chapters to others (schedule to be set) – presentation of about 20-25 minutes per Chapter + 10-15 minutes discussion afterwards
| Chapter Name | Main Message | Student | Date |
| Chapter 1: From the Greeks to Kepler | Ideas about Sight, Light, Colors and Transparency. First philosophies about scientific approach and description of the world. / Ancient Greece, Roman Empire, Arabic Science Hubs, Holy Roman Empire | week starting 23.3. | |
| Chapter 2: Mechanical medium and theories of 17th century | Light Rays, observable effects, analogy with sound and music. Principle of Imaging. Wave-like motion of light. Beginning of the Scientific Revolution (René Descartes). / Rise of Monarchies. Thirty Years’ War, English Civil War, Great Turkish War. | week starting 23.3. | |
| Chapter 3: Newton’s optics | Newton’s Achievements in Optics – Theory of Color, Color Mixing, Light as Particles / Scientific Revolution | Dean Pavlovič | week starting 13.4. |
| Chapter 4: 18th century | Legacy of Newton, Neo-Cartesian optics, Ray Optics, Euler / Age of Enlightenment, Industrial Revolution, Partition of Poland, Rise of Russia and Prussia | week starting 13.4. | |
| Chapter 5: Interference, polarization and waves in the early 19th century | Thomas Young (last polymath) – solving interference, J.A. Fresnel – describing diffraction. Wave-like description of light / French Revolution, Napoleonic Wars, Revolutions of 1848 | week starting 4.5. | |
| Chapter 6: Ether and matter | Maxwell’s unification of light, Problem of Ether and the speed of light. Experiments towards Special Relativity and Quantum Mechanics | week starting 4.5. |
Other Sources:
A. Mark Smith – From Sight to Light: The Passage from Ancient to Modern Optics
K. Simonyi – A Cultural History of Physics
D. F. Vanderwerf – The Story of Light Science: From Early Theories to Today’s Extraordinary Applications
The Oxford Handbook of The History of Physics, edited by J. Buchwald and R. Fox