GSoC: Introducing Optical Physics

[Sudhanshu Mishra]

Hi

I am a second year undergraduate student of Information Systems from BITS Pilani, India.

I like Physics and I've been using Python for an year. I started developing a Python package called BinPy for electronics computation and simulation.

This is my Github profile.

I want to propose an idea to introduce a new package for optical physics in sympy. I want to do this as a project under GSoC14.

Since we already have vector, optical physics can easily be implemented. As of now only Guassian optics is available. 

If we add more things like Newtonian optics, Maxwell's equation, Fermat's principle, Snell's laws and many more concepts, 

It would be very helpful for the users to do scientific computations related to optics using sympy.

If you like this idea, guide me what should I do now to get familiar with the physics package of sympy.

With Regards

Sudhanshu Mishra

[Sachin Joglekar]

I would suggest you to go through the API of physics.vector package and see if you have all the functionality you need. I think you should. Once you have done that, you can start thinking of how you will base your work on that module, the target API, etc. Once you have some idea, you can start putting down your proposal on the SymPy wiki, so that we can help you refine it.
(Dont forget about the PR requirement)

[Sudhanshu Mishra]

To get started should I add a module to solve problems related to Kepler's laws? It will give me a basic idea of physics.vector.

[Stefan Krastanov]

Why is physics.vector better for optics compared to just a column matrix?

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[Sudhanshu Mishra]

Is this project doable withing the summer duration? 

If we consider adding only necessary things, it should not hinder the next major release of sympy.

With Regards

Sudhanshu Mishra

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 8:46 PM, Sudhanshu Mishra <mrs...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Stefan

Using physics.vector will make this work easier. It's always possible to do it without the vector. Not using vector will reduce the readability of the code.

With Regards

Sudhanshu Mishra

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[Sudhanshu Mishra]

Hi Stefan

Using physics.vector will make this work easier. It's always possible to do it without the vector. Not using vector will reduce the readability of the code.

With Regards

Sudhanshu Mishra

On Mon, Mar 3, 2014 at 8:36 PM, Stefan Krastanov <stefan.k...@yale.edu> wrote:

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[Jason Moore]

Stefan,

The physics.vector package provides vectors and tensors that are basis dependent which eases working with vectors defined in multiple reference frames that are rotated with respect to each other. If all of your vectors are defined in a single reference frame, then column matrices suffice.

Jason
moorepants.info
+01 530-601-9791

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[Sachin Joglekar]

I have to agree with Stefan here. In optics, the usual manipulations and calculations are better done with a simple matrix - though if we need to express vectors/coordinates in different systems, you could use the vector API- but that would just be the minimal use. The core operations would be done better with matrices (and faster too).
@Sudhanshu, can you think of any optics application that would require heavy-duty vector stuff?

On Monday, March 3, 2014 4:13:29 PM UTC+5:30, Sudhanshu Mishra wrote:

[Sudhanshu Mishra]

@Sachin not really extensive but vectors are frequently used in the optics. If there's no issue, I'll use matrix only.

But my question wasn't vector or matrix. Please give me suggestions on how should I proceed with the idea. Can anyone mentor this project, if this idea feels promising?

[Ondřej Čertík]

Hi Sudhanshu,

I think this would be an interesting project. Do you have some
applications in mind?
Maybe for teaching or learning? So with your project, it would be
possible to do some problems
from physics textbooks about optics?

Ondrej

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[Sudhanshu Mishra]

Hi Ondřej,

Yes,introducing optics using SymPy will reduce a lot of effort in teaching and learning and the practical applications of the same.

From basics optics like Snell's law, Principle of least time, lens shifts to scientific level such as applications in fibre optics and cost effective

astronomical simulations and problem solving.

I'll start with adding basics first and once I have a proof of concept I'll move to Newtonian optics and Maxwell's optics. SymPy already have Mechanics, Quantum and a few

things related to electrostatics. The only thing missing is optics. Introduction of optics will increase use cases of SymPy.

With Regrds

Sudhanshu Mishra

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