Book Description

This book is an up to date, introductory treatment of geometrical optics, from the point of view of the future optics practitioner. The principles of gaussian optics and first-order layout and design are emphasized, based on the tracing of two paraxial rays and the associated optical invariant. The radiometry of lens systems is seen to rest on the same concepts. Third order aberration theory is developed in detail. Complete examples of third order design are provided, together with software tools that allow the reader to follow the examples in detail, or to develop other examples independently. Throughout the book, the understanding of fundamental principles is given preference over the mere following of recipes. Several problems at the end of each chapter allow the student to practice and extend the concepts taught. In addition to Gaussian optics and aberrations, the basic principles of several types of optical instruments and components are treated, including gradient index and diffractive optics. A complete yet simple treatment of gaussian beams is included, that is also based on two paraxial rays and the optical invariant. The book concludes with an outline of the optical design process and solved design problems. ... Read more

Book Description

This book presents the most comprehensive and methodical work on the theory of the moiré phenomenon, providing a full general-purpose and application-independent exposition of this fascinating effect. Based on the Fourier theory, it leads the reader through the various phenomena which occur in the superposition of repetitive layers, both in the image and in the spectral domains. The first chapters of the book present the basic theory, covering the superposition of monochrome, periodic layers. In later chapters the theory is extended to the even more interesting cases of polychromatic moirés and moirés between repetitive, non-periodic layers. Throughout the whole text the book favours a pictorial, intuitive approach which is supported by mathematics, and the discussion is accompanied by a large number of figures and illustrative examples, some of which are visually attractive and even spectacular.

Audience: This book is intended for students, scientists, engineers and any readers who wish to widen their knowledge of the moiré effect. It also offers a beautiful demonstration of the Fourier theory and its relationship with other fields of mathematics and science. The prerequisite mathematical background is limited to an elementary familiarity with the Fourier theory. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

the best introduction to moire theory so far
This is a nicely written book which describes most of modern moire pattern theory. The emphasis is on the Fourier domain and several chapters are merely an extension of papers written by the author. Another novel topic is the use of colors in moire patterns. In the area of moire pattern, this book is clearly the best so far. It has most of the recent developments and Amidror has put many nice figures which help clarify the material. ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction to the physics of silicon solar cells focuses on thin cells, while reviewing and discussing the current status of the important technology. An analysis of the spectral quantum efficiency of thin solar cells is given as well as a full set of analytical models. This is the first comprehensive treatment of light trapping techniques for the enhancement of the optical absorption in thin silicon films. ... Read more

Book Description

The influence of light on the lives of living organisms is all-pervasive, affecting movement, vision, behavior, and physiological activity. This book is a biophysically grounded comparative survey of how animals detect light and perceive their surroundings. Included are discussions of photoreceptors, light emitters, and eyes.The book focuses in particular on the kinds of optical systems that have evolved, beginning with unicellular organisms that detect and respond to light through to more advanced and complex designs for imaging. The relevance of these studies extends beyond biology, since these findings can be used to help develop photoreceptor energy conversion and information systems, and optical imaging devices with a wide range of everyday applications.The book will appeal to biophysicists, photobiologists, bioengineers, neuroscientists, and all researchers working in the area of vision and visual optics. visual optics. ... Read more

Book Description

A clear and comprehensive account of the basic principles involved in all quantum optical resonance phenomena, directed to graduate students and research physicists, and hailed in Contemporary Physics as "a valuable contribution to the literature of non-linear optics." 53 illustrations. Preface. Index. Lists of references.
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Reviews (1)

Good coverage of topics, excellent value
If you're looking for an introduction to optics or atomic physics, this book may be a little terse and advanced. But if you have some exposure to optics and lasers, and a good foundation in electromagnetism and basic quantum mechanics, this is a great book to have. The authors discuss the semiclassical two-level model to a level of detail which is hard to find in other standard texts. And although there is a good amount of detail, the book does not get lost in the mathematics, making it easily accessible to the experimentalist as well as to the theorist. I particularly like the treatment of the Bloch equations and pulse propagation. On the down-side, the book does tend to be terse in some areas, giving minimal discussion of the physics (although at least it does discuss the physics!), and some of the derivations are little difficult to follow. Also, the brevity of the table of contents makes it a little difficult to figure out what the book actually covers. And the notation used in some parts was somewhat unfamiliar.

But overall, if you're looking for a book in atomic and optical physics where you get the most value for your money, this book is to be highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

This excellent text offers comprehensive treatment of the light-scattering properties of small, independent particles, covering both basic scattering theory and particular computations with different kinds of particles. It includes a full range of useful approximation methods for researchers in chemistry, meteorology and astronomy. 46 tables. 59 graphs. 44 illustrations.
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Reviews (1)

Excellent overview
This book gives an excellent overview on light scattering by small particles and is a must-have for everybody working on scattering phenomena. Whether you are a phycisist, mathematician or engineer, it provides a solid basis for the problems encountered. Further comment is not needed - just consider how often this book is referenced to in scientific publications! ... Read more

Amazon.com

If we would only stop and smell the roses once in a blue moon, we'd discover some amazing things on this planet. Why are wildflowers so brightly colored? To attract the attention of honeybees, of course. Why are flamingos pink? Because of the pigments in the crustaceans they eat.Perhaps only a physics professor would know that you can tell the age of a desert by the color of its sand--perhaps only a physics professor would care--but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to appreciate the photographic skills Neill employs in illustrating the authors' concepts. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Excellent Book
"The Color of Nature" is a very good book. The photography is wonderful, and there is nice text to go along with it.

Great for Kids and Adults Alike!
Paul Dogerty makes learning the "whys" and "hows" of colors fun. He presents the scientific principles of how we see what we see in an easy-to-grasp manner that is both interesting and comprehensible. In addition, the photographs that accompany the text, which alone are worth the price of the book, serve to admirably highlight the processes Dogerty seeks verbally to illustrate. Together, art and words combine to emphasize the wonder and beauty of the world in which we live ... Read more

Amazon.com

Among physicists, it is widely assumed that one's greatest chance for abreakthrough discovery will come before one reaches the age of 30. Trueor not, this idea leads young physicists such as João Magueijo topull out all the intellectual stops in the search for glory andimmortality. In Faster Than the Speed of Light, Magueijo revealsthe short, brilliant history of his possibly groundbreakingspeculation--VSL, or Variable Light Speed. This notion--that the speedof light changed as the universe expanded after the BigBang--contradicts no less prominent a figure than Albert Einstein.Because of this, Magueijo has suffered more than a few slings and arrowsfrom hidebound, jealous, or perplexed colleagues. But the youngscientist persisted, found a few important allies, and finally managedto shake up the establishment enough to get the attention he merited andcraved. Magueijo begins the book with a suitably accessible explanationof special and general relativity, then moves on to the ideas that laidthe groundwork for VSL. In the process, he rips the doors off ofscientific academia and airs quite a bit of dirty laundry. Comparinghimself to Einstein throughout the book, Magueijo approaches his topicand its dissemination with cocksure genius, expecting readers tosympathize with him as he battles to win favor. And we do. Thescientific process is "rigorous, competitive, emotional, andargumentative," writes Magueijo. His theory could knock down two solidpillars of cosmology--inflation and relativity. Not only does hisradical notion deserve a trial by fire, it also deserves a champion likeMagueijo, who isn't afraid of the flames. --Therese Littleton ... Read more

Reviews (56)

This is not just another popular physics book
This is a very interesting book for several reasons. Einstein's ideas, just like the man himself, have become mythic in their influence and popularity. This book puts forward an important post-Einsteinian theory of the nature of the universe and so challenges one of the most significant and well-known ideas of the 20th century. As if that wasn't courageous enough, Magueijo writes the book about his unconventional idea in an unconventional way - he also critiques the organisations and processes of science itself which produce new ideas, from the structure of present day universities to the process of scientific publication and peer-review. While some readers may see his critique of the institutions of science as irrelevant to his new ideas in physics, this ignores the real influence that the institutional status quo have on the development and acceptance of scientific innovation. The promotion of a revolutionary idea not only requires the challenging of existing theory, it also requires the challenging of the scientific institutions which currently hold that idea. This second battle is usually done silently behind the scenes, but Magueijo drops the pretence and writes about both in his book - and its about time science got this particular skeleton out of the closet! Magueijo is no crank - the Royal Society have given him a 10 year Fellowship - very very few get one of those. I for one, commend his gutsy swipe at both established theory and the establishments of theory. This book is a breath of fresh air and just what universities and research institutes need more of to keep them useful.

Reads like two separate books
I genuinely appreciate Joao Magueijo's attitude that its ok to challenge fixtures of conventional scientific wisdom. History shows that we stagnate scientifically when we get too comfortable with a sure thing. So although the fixed speed of light is thoroughly entrenched, its still fair game in my view, and I bought this book to hear about his theory.

The first half of this book describes some basics of conventional cosmological thinking, including the special and general theories of relativity. This is appropriate and necessary for what is to come, and the examples presented are unique and interesting.

But just when Mr. Magueijo seems prepared to delve into his own theories, he changes focus. Sure he pauses now and again to describe his work, but not with the same clarity and depth as before. Because what he really wants to convey in the second half of the book is how frustrating it is to deal with magazine editors and the bureaucracy of research institutions. And as much as we can all sympathize with these frustrations, he comes off at times as a young man simply railing against perceived injustices. It's a better book when he sticks to his enthusiasm for science. Yet I can still recommend it for open minded individuals with an interest in cosmology.

A horrible book written by an obvious novice.
As a former professor of physics, I am greatly concerned that this book will be viewed by non-physicists as being on par with some of the excellent "pedestrian" books on advanced physics, such as "A Brief History of Time" or "The Elegant Universe".

Mr. Magueijo's attempts to explain elementary electrodynamics and mechanics show that his mastery of physics would not even earn him a passing grade in one of my freshman-level courses. I would not be at all surprised if Cambridge contacted Mr. Magueijo and demanded that he return his diploma.

As a trained and working mathematician and physicist, I would consider this book good to have around...for when I was in need of a laugh. The hardcover version, I am sure, is well suited for use as a paperweight. And most certainly, a person freezing to death would find warmth and light by setting the book afire. Beyond those uses, this book cannot be considered anything other than a waste of paper and ink.

the link is broken
I only wish to let you know that in the Customer Reviews the link must be broken somewhere, since I cannot get all 54 reviews that are claim to exist. I can get only to about no.30

The Genius That Is Joao Magueijo
I have just finished reading "Faster That The Speed Of Light" by João Magueijo. Anybody interested in the universe we live in or relativity must read this book. I have read many books on this subject including Stephen Hawking excellent books "A Brief History Of Time" & "The Universe In A Nutshell".

This book manages to describe relatively (no pun indented) complex theories in a way even I can understand. He manages to break it down to grass roots level with his "cows in a field" analogy of Special Relativity. Not only does he achieve this, but also it introduces us to a concept that rocks the very foundations of physics, that the speed of light is not constant (or is it?).

João manages to deliver all that while explaining the personal struggle he and his collaborators suffered within the scientific community while working on these theories, the highs and the lows and just how close they came to throwing it all in the trashcan.

In summary this is the most interesting book I have had the pleasure of reading. The only drawback I can find, to the book, is that it's not finished yet, João were waiting for the sequel. ... Read more

Book Description

Examines geometrical optics, the theory of interference and diffraction, Maxwell’s Theory, crystal optics and molecular optics. Peerless resource for students and professionals.
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Reviews (1)

Pauli has a good time with optics
This is a very short book on optics. It has only some 170 pages!
Still, it's a great fun! Pauli starts witn the Fermat principle and soon finds out the Hamilon-Jacobi equation connected to this variational principle: it's the eikonal equation. He proceeds to get a lot of general results in geometrical optics. After that come interference and diffraction; optics from Maxwell theory,crystal and molecular optics. You'll find fresh perspectives, surprising connections, everywhere. This is the ideal book to review your optical expertise: you'll have lots of fun seeing things you are familiar with, much better done! ... Read more

Book Description

Includes information on Hale-Bopp, SSG, all updates since Volume III and material on the uncreating of Hitler.

*Negative Sirians coming to the third dimension
*The express bus to creatorship
*The Poison HAARP project
*Luciferian traits and critical mass
*ETs in Brazil
*Comet brings lightbeing-filled vehicle bigger than Earth
*Sinister secret government (SSG) under control of beings from the alternate negative future ... Read more

Book Description

Excellent study provides detailed account of the Hamiltonian treatment of aberration theory in geometrical optics. Important for design of laser cavities, electron optics, crystal physics, other areas. Author deals in logical progression with many classes of optical systems, defined in terms of the symmetries they possess. Mathematical prerequisites relatively low. Problems at the end of each chapter accompanied by detailed solutions at the back of the book. 1970 edition.
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Reviews (1)

Analytical methods
This book is by far the best in the field of geometrical optics dealing with 3-d, 5-th and higher orders aberrations in symmetric optical system. The language is very clear and easy to follow, it is written for a broad audience. I would personally recommend it for all how has an interest in the theory of optical aberrations. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Great Introduction
The rating says that this edition is perfect for babies and preschoolers. My wife and I have been reading a section to our five year-old child every night before bedtime. He didn't really care too much about blackbody radiation, but he appreciated the importance of the Einstein A and B coefficients. By working with that phenomonological theory you can obtain the inversion dependence of the gain coefficient much more easily than by solving the problem of a two level system subject to an oscillatory perturbation.

I highly recommend it! After we finish this we'll probably introduce our child to Coldren's book on semiconductor lasers!

Seriously, leaving aside my mockery of the inaccurate reading level rating, it is a decent book. I'd agree that it can be dry and focused on equations more than physics at times, but it offers a very balanced selection of topics, and clearer explanations than many physics books.

I particularly like the progression from old quantum theory to semiclassical theory to the fully quantized theory. It emphasizes the useful aspects of each theory, in particular the usefulness of the old theory in terms of simplicity and accuracy in many situations. History may not always be the best approach to science, but it works if you emphasize the usefulness of simple models and how they follow from more sophisticated models.

Besides, it's much better than Yariv (but what isn't?).

One major complaint: It deals almost exclusively with atomic systems. Those of us who work with molecules or semiconductors need a second reference book to learn more about transitions into a continuum of states (or at least numerous and closely-spaced states).

Simple introduction...but not sufficient.
For an introduction to quantum optics, the author is to be highly commended for keeping the mathematics and derivations straightforward and easily followed by a senior or 1st year graduate student in experimental physics. Unfortunately, he does not go beyond the math to discuss the physics which the mathematics describe. The problems he includes for students to work out are all derivation of formula with absolutely no application of formula. By the time I got throught the book, I realized that I still had no real intuition of how a laser worked, or any understanding of how to apply the quantized radiation field to any real problems.

So if you're looking for a handbook to give you a simple tour of the mathematics in the quantum theory of light, this is the book for you. If you're looking for a more comprehensive treatment, look elsewhere. The selection of topics is very limited: too little math for a theorist, and too little physics for the experimentalist. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A long awaited textbook
This book: "Optics for Technology Students" by: Robert O. Naess fills a void in the area of academic texts.

There are all sorts of optics textbooks for students in 4 year engineering programs but there has been absolutely NOTHING for students in a two year technical program. Here at last is a text that does not have calculus as a prerequisite.

It is written in conversational format and does not have that air of talking down to students that is found in so many textbooks. This book is not only a good academic textbook, but it will also serve a function as a desk reference for technologists working in optics. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (2)

A solid piece of science
There is no doubt that Jed Buchwald has excellent comand over his area of expertise. This work provides enourmous insight to the realms of wave theory and its history, sometimes even reading more like poetry than scientific prose. However, there are sections that tend to overcompound ideas, resulting in reduced clarity. The previous reviewer was correct in noting the hefty pricetag, but despite its shortcomings (which are few but noticeable), this work should not be overlooked, and I would recommend it to both students and academics with any interest in this topic.

Excellent First Try
A decent foray into the world of optics. I heartily recommend this book, though it is not worth the hefty cover price. [...] ... Read more

Book Description

Presents a treatment of fundamental aspects of the generation, transfer and detection of optical and infra-red radiation. Emphasis placed on practical aspects of radiometry in detection. Discusses formal principles of radiometry, signal-to-noise considerations in the detection of optical radiation, and the operation of various radiation detectors. Includes tables and graphs of blackbody functions. ... Read more

Book Description

1849. Includes treatises relating to magnetic light, crystals, magnetism, solar rays, chemical attraction, the material universe, dualism in the odylic phenomena, luminous phenomena, forms of the emanations of odylic light in steel magnets, among many others. ... Read more

Book Description

Praised as 'one of the best new optics books seen for some time', this book will provide a unique presentation of classical optics from the modern perspective. Written for advanced undergraduate students, the text stands out by its readability and stimulating discussions, close ties to experimental physics, and excellent choice of worked problem sets. ... Read more

Book Description

Mark Silverman has seen light perform many wonders. From the marvel of seeing inside cloudy liquids as a result of his own cutting-edge research to reproducing and examining an unusual diffraction pattern first witnessed by Isaac Newton 300 years ago, he has studied aspects of light that have inspired and puzzled humans for hundreds of years. In this book, he draws on his many experiences as an optical and atomic physicist--and on his consummate skills as a teacher and writer about the mysteries of physics--to present a remarkable tour of the world of light. He explores theoretical, experimental, and historical themes, showing a keen eye for curious and neglected corners of the study of light and a fascination with the human side of scientific discovery.

In the course of the book, he covers such questions as how it is possible to achieve magnifications of a millionfold without a single lens or mirror. He asks what all living things have in common that might one day allow the development of a "life-form scanner" like the one in Star Trek. He considers whether more light can reflect from a surface than strikes it, and explores the origin of the strange hyperpolic diffraction pattern Newton originally produced with sunlight and knives. Silverman also discusses his new and ground-breaking experiments to see into murky substances such as fog or blood--a finding with potential applications as diverse as noninvasive medical testing and remote sensing of the environment. His wide-ranging reflections cover virtually all elements of physical optics, including propagation, reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, polarization, and scattering.

Throughout, Silverman makes extensive reference to both modern research and the original works of giants such as Newton, Fresnel, and Maxwell. In a more personal section about physics and learning, Silverman argues for self-directed learning and discusses the central importance of stimulating scientific curiosity in students. Waves and Grains will encourage a spirit of wonder and inquiry in anyone with scientific interests. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Essays in Optics
Mark P. Silverman's "Waves and Grains", in much the same manner as his treatment of quantum interference in "More Than One Mystery" written a few years earlier, is a series of discrete but interrelated essays on different aspects of optics. The treatment is semi-technical, with analyses of the math supporting the various experiments and their interpretations. Speaking as one with no math background at all and no formal training in physics, I still found this book fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable. Silverman is something of a polymath, with wide-ranging interests, and he succeeds in bringing together concepts from different fields of study in unexpected but very fruitful ways. He surely must be a wonderful classroom teacher; his enthusiasm for his subject matter is contagious, and to say that his use of language in his writing is masterful is an understatement. Formerly a journalist, he is always engaging, and never dry. Throughout, his descriptions are a model of clarity, and the precision of his vocabulary in the simplest nontechnical sentences is awe-inspiring in its elegance. This is not a textbook, but any serious student of physics who doesn't own a copy is missing out on an important book.

I got to the final three chapters of this book ("A Heretical Experiment in Teaching Physics", "Why Brazil Nuts Are on Top: Physics and the Art of Writing", and "What Does It Take...?") long after forming my impressions noted above, having first read Silverman's earlier "More Than One Mystery" with just the same amount of pleasure, and was gratified to find my reactions validated here. These chapters are entirely nontechnical discussions of the importance of an understanding of the physical world we inhabit, and better ways of imparting an enthusiasm for learning to students, which in themselves would make this book worthwhile for anyone sharing these interests.

Much of this same material is presented for a general readership in his 2002 "A Universe of Atoms, An Atom in the Universe", a revision of the now out-of-print "And Yet It Moves: Strange Systems and Subtle Questions in Physics".

Another stop in the course of my Self Directed Education
I like this book a whole lot. It holds some kind of strange attraction for me although it is definitely too advanced and mathematically quantitative for me to completely understand. Yet, I *really* like it... Hmm. Why is that? This book is a friendly and curiously unique presentation of practical & theoretical aspects of light (electromagnetism). Included in the book are discussions of the great ideas and men who helped advance our understanding of light - for example the book gives some discussion on the contributions of Newton, Young, Fresnel, Huygens, & Maxwell. This isn’t just the “History of Science” stuff, it’s written in a captivating style to put our understanding in a cultural context. Throughout the book are justifiably qualitative (fairly quantitative) presentations on the technical aspects of Diffraction & Interference, Polarization, Reflection & Scattering, and a neat chapter titled ‘Playing with waves (subtitled the "Voice of the Dragon"!)’. Finally my favorite and inspiring section, Science & Learning ('Self-Directed Learning'). I hope you give this book a chance like I did because, for me, there is a sea of information out there and I'm keeping afloat by sailing around in a boat which I'm building while I'm traveling the literally wonderful journey of self directed enlightenment. Dr. Silverman has sent out some fascinating building materials for me to pick up and try to incorporate. The book has brought me to the shores of a wonderful land, rich with appreciation for the most prevalent stuff in our Universe - LIGHT! Now I must confess: I am borderline incompetent when it comes to mathematics - so this book (like so many I try to wrap my brain around) escapes my full grasp. But I believe that it doesn't hurt to try stretching my mind beyond it's current capabilities. If anything, it makes me more flexible. My experience with this book has left me provoked to explore electromagnetism much further!!!

IndiAndy Intellectual Adventurer & Explorer ... Read more

Book Description

One of the latest volumes of recorded lectures by the world's greatest physics teacher

Perseus Books is proud to announce the latest volumes in its series of recorded lectures by the late Richard P. Feynman, lectures originally delivered to his physics students at Caltech and later fashioned by the author into his classic textbook Lectures on Physics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Live from Caltech, It's Professor Richard Feynman ! ! !
Six Wonderful Pieces! This is my first and favorite unabridged audio collection of Feyman's Lectures on Physics which he delivered during the month February in 1962 at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech). These events occurred 21 months before and 21 miles away from where I was born here in Southern California! I eagerly listen to all of these tapes over & over & over again - reveling in his style of teaching (humorous, witty, and humble). Much of the quantitative eludication of subject material surpasse my comprehension. Nonetheless, I just relax during my long commute to work and absorb whatever sinks in.

My only beef with this collection is that they (Helix Books/Perseus Publishing) left out some essential lectures which, in the book, complete the overall theme (i.e. light) such as his lectures on Polarization and the one on Radiation Damping/Light Scattering. Now, I understand that each volume of these boxed sets can probably only contain a maximum of six cassettes, however they ought to publish another collection that contains the "missing" lectures mentioned above. There are plenty of his other lectures on the subject of electromagnetics from the printed volumes to be found in the other series of Audio Volumes (e.g. audio volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 & 10) however they are not quite cohesive in their contiguity (kind of scattered/clumped together).

I have a total of nine (2-10) of the twelve currently available volumes (as of July 2001). Volumes 13 and 14 are forthcoming. See my 'Listmania Lists' for a convenient place to find almost all of the available Feynman audio.

One of the cool things you can do with these audio lectures is to listen to them and then correlate them to the famous collected three volume-printed sets of the "Feynman Lectures on Physics". They relate very well in my opinion.

FYI: this set of tapes is number eight in the audio collection series and the cassettes correlate to the printed lectures in the following manner:

Cassette 1 is Volume 1, Chapter 26: The Principle of Least Time; cassette 2 is Volume 1, Chapter 27: Geometrical Optics; cassette 3 is Volume 1, Chapter 28: Electromagnetic Radiation; cassette 4 is Volume 1, Chapter 29: Interference; cassette 5 is Volume 1, Chapter 30: Diffraction; and cassette 6 is Volume 1, Chapter 31: The Origin of the Refractive Index.

My favorite quotation out of these lectures is, "And thus is the universe knit together. The atomic motions of a star still have sufficient influence at this great distance to set the electrons in our eye in motion, and so we know about the stars. If this law did not exist, we would all be literally in the dark about the exterior world!"

Collect 'em all and enjoy! Please visit my Amazon personal profile by clicking the "IndiAndy (see more about me)" link above and drop me a line. It's a real treat hearing from visitors of my reviews. ... Read more

Book Description

Optical science, the science that studies the nature of light, can be approached from several different angles. In this third edition of a successful and well-established text, the author focuses on physical and geometrical optics. The text is based largely on Fourier analysis and shows how this method can be used to describe wave propagation and diffraction and their applications to imaging, microscopy, X-ray crystallography, radio-astronomy, and communication. Several new sections have been added, including discussions of super-resolved imaging (near field and confocal microscopy), phase-retrieval in optical and X-ray diffraction, phase-conjugate imaging, astronomical speckle masking, and squeezed-light interferometry. Throughout, the subject matter is developed by a combination of unsophisticated mathematics and physical intuition. The very broad range of subjects treated, together with the inclusion of many problems and over 300 diagrams and photographs, will make the book of great use to undergraduate and graduate students of physics, and to anyone working in the field of optical science. ... Read more