List of optics equations

This article summarizes equations used in optics, including geometric optics, physical optics, radiometry, diffraction, and interferometry.

Physical optics (EM luminal waves)
There are different forms of the Poynting vector, the most common are in terms of the E and B or E and H fields.

Radiometry


For spectral quantities two definitions are in use to refer to the same quantity, in terms of frequency or wavelength.

Geometric optics
Subscripts 1 and 2 refer to initial and final optical media respectively.

These ratios are sometimes also used, following simply from other definitions of refractive index, wave phase velocity, and the luminal speed equation:

$$ \frac{n_1}{n_2} = \frac{v_2}{v_1} = \frac{\lambda_2}{\lambda_1} = \sqrt{\frac{\epsilon_1 \mu_1}{\epsilon_2 \mu_2}} \,\!$$

where:
 * ε = permittivity of medium,
 * μ = permeability of medium,
 * λ = wavelength of light in medium,
 * v = speed of light in media.

Astrophysics definitions
In astrophysics, L is used for luminosity (energy per unit time, equivalent to power) and F is used for energy flux (energy per unit time per unit area, equivalent to intensity in terms of area, not solid angle). They are not new quantities, simply different names.