The various stages of human optical development

Embryonic Period of Optics
The embryonic period of optics can be traced back to ancient civilizations. The ancient Chinese "Mo Jing" recorded experiments on pinhole imaging, indicating that ancient Chinese people had begun to study the propagation and imaging phenomena of light. Ancient Greek scholars such as Aristotle and Euclid also studied the straight-line propagation and reflection of light. Aristotle believed that light was emitted from the eyes, while Euclid proposed the theory of straight-line propagation of light and detailed the law of reflection in his book "Optics."

Geometrical Optics Period
The period of geometrical optics began in the Middle Ages, with the Arab scholar Ibn al-Haytham detailing the straight-line propagation, reflection, and refraction of light in his work "Book of Optics." He experimentally verified the laws of reflection and refraction of light and put forth the theory of light's straight-line propagation, laying the foundation for later European scholars. His work is considered the cornerstone of modern optics.

Wave Optics Period
In the 17th century, Dutch scientist Huygens proposed the wave theory of light, explaining light's diffraction and interference phenomena. Huygens believed that light propagated as waves, a theory that stood in contrast to Newton's particle theory. Subsequently, Thomas Young confirmed the wave nature of light through the double-slit experiment, demonstrating light's interference phenomenon. Fresnel further developed the wave theory, introducing the Fresnel wave theory to explain light's diffraction phenomena.

Quantum Optics Period
In the early 20th century, Einstein proposed the quantum theory of light, explaining the photoelectric effect and revealing the particle nature of light. Building on Planck's quantum theory, Einstein suggested that light is composed of photons, a theory that successfully explained the results of the photoelectric effect experiment. Later, de Broglie proposed the theory of matter waves, further revealing the wave-particle duality of light.

Modern Optics Period
Modern optics encompasses fields such as laser technology, optical fiber communication, and photonics. In 1960, Maiman invented the first laser, marking the birth of laser technology. Laser technology has found wide applications in communication, healthcare, manufacturing, and more. The development of optical fiber communication has enabled high-speed data transmission, greatly advancing information technology. Photonics research further elucidates the interaction between light and matter, providing a theoretical basis for the development of novel optical devices.

The development of optics not only drives scientific and technological progress but also profoundly impacts human production and life. From ancient pinhole imaging experiments to modern laser technology, each advancement in optics brings new possibilities for humanity.