1. Electromagnetic fields and origin of light -- 2. Electromagnetic waves in linear media -- 3. Light propagation in anisotropic crystals -- 4. Wave propagation across the interface of two homogeneous media -- 5. Light propagation in a dielectric waveguide -- 6. Paraxial propagation of gaussian beams -- 7. Scalar and vector diffraction theories -- 8. Calculations for plane waves incident upon various apertures -- 9. Vector diffraction across a curved interface -- 10. Diffraction of gaussian beams -- 11. Trapping cold atoms with laser light.