Book Description

This set of five volumes, four volumes edited by Edward D. Palik and a volume by Gorachand Ghosh, is a unique resource for any science and technology library. It provides materials researchers and optical device designers with reference facts in a context not available anywhere else. The singular functionality of the set derives from the unique format for the three core volumes that comprise the Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids. The Handbook satisfies several essential needs: first, it affords the most comprehensive database of the refractive index and extinction (or loss) coefficient of technically important and scientifically interesting dielectrics. This data has been critically selected and evaluated by authorities on each material. Second, the dielectric constant database is supplemented by tutorial chapters covering the basics of dielectric theory and reviews of experimental techniques for each wavelength region and material characteristic. As an additional resource, two of the tutorial chapters summarize the relevant characteristics of each of the materials in the database.
The data in the core volumes have been collected and analyzed over a period of twelve years, with the most recent completed in 1997. The volumes systematically define the dielectric properties of 143 of the most engaging materials, including metals, semiconductors, and insulators. Together, the three Palik books contain nearly 3,000 pages, with about 2/3 devoted to the dielectric constant data. The tutorial chapters in the remaining 1/3 of the pages contain a wealth of information, including some dielectric data. Hence, the separate volume, Index to Handbook of Optical Constants of Solids, which is included as part of the set, substantially enhances the utility of the Handbook and in essence, joins all the Palik volumes into one unit. It isthen of great importance to users of the set. A final volume rounds out the set. The Handbook of Thermo-Optic Coefficients of Optical Materials with Applications collects refractive index measurements and their temperature dependence for a large number of crystals and glasses. Mathematical models represent these data, and in turn are used in the design of nonlinear optical devices.

* Unique source of extremely useful optical data for a very broad community of scientists, researchers, and practitioners
* Will be of great practical applicability to both industry and research
* Presents optical constants for a broadest spectral range, for a very large number of materials: Paliks three volumes include 143 materials including 43 elements; Ghoshs volume includes some 70 technologically interesting crystals and many commercial glasses
* Includes a special index volume that enables the user to search for the information in the three Palik volumes easily and quickly
* Critique chapters in the Palik volumes discuss the data and give reference to most of the literature available for each material
* Presents various techniques for measuring the optical constants and mathematical models for analytical calculations of some data ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Erudite and encyclopedic but extremely expensive
I've used Palik & Ghosh as an occasional reference work for years, because it's very good, and has chapters on most of the materials I've needed to work with--metals, silicon, and oxide dielectrics of one sort or another. Obviously a lot of work went into it, and it's a pretty specialized business, measuring and tabulating optical properties. I'd give it 5 stars for content, no doubt about it--an orchid for the editors: for their part of the deal they deserve our praise and thanks.

The set gets about one star for value, because it's priced like a last-minute airline ticket--those who need it sufficiently badly will pay. The publishers want something getting on for a grand for 5 books, and *two and a half grand* for the same thing in software, which costs nothing to reproduce! For most people, the abbreviated tables in recent editions of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics are better than good enough, though it would be great to be able to afford Palik and Ghosh.

If the price ever comes down by a factor of three, I'd probably buy the books, but it would take a factor of 10 before I'd consider the software. ... Read more

Amazon.com

New Riders' [digital] series is performing a tremendous service to thecomputer animation and graphics community. The newest addition to this family is[digital] Lighting & Rendering. Author Jeremy Birn has long been regardedas a talented computer graphics artist and generous writer, and he's beensharing his techniques and discoveries for years.

Using computer graphic and 3-D tools to create accurate images is easy; usingthem to produce beautiful, inviting, memorable images requires more thantechnical skill. [digital] Lighting & Rendering introduces reasons andtechniques for using light, shadow, texture, and composition. The book is notsoftware-specific, but demonstrates techniques that are applicable to almost any3-D graphics application. It is assumed, however, that your 3-D software ofchoice supports such basic rendering features as soft shadows, light maps,colored gels, depth-of-field blur, motion blur, and so on.

The first half of the book discusses lighting and shadow: lighting workflow;light types; using lighting rigs, such as three-point lighting; shadows andshadow type; and light quality. Lighting--how it's used, where it's placed,the kind of shadow it casts, its intensity--is critical to any image, whetheryou're creating a photorealistic computer re-creation or a surreal fantasypicture. [digital] Lighting & Rendering explains not just how to usevarious lighting techniques, but why.

An outstanding chapter on color and its use through composition and lightingoffers insight into how colors are perceived and how color affects a scene. Theimportance of color, hue, and saturation should not be underestimated, and theexamples in this chapter, like in every other, drive home that point.

Additional chapters cover exposure, composition and staging, materials andtextures, and compositing. There is no accompanying CD-ROM, but theplatform-generic nature of the book (and of the subject matter itself) makes itunnecessary. The book is designed to educate and inform; it is up to readers toapply what they learn to their own projects.

Although fewer than 300 pages long, [digital] Lighting & Rendering is aninformative and important book, useful to any computer graphics artist. Eachpage is filled with fascinating, immediately helpful information about thecraft. The publisher spared no expense on the book's production, either--everypage is in color, with at least one color photo per page illuminating the text.Mr. Birn's experience and insight are not to be underestimated, and this book isnot to be missed. --Mike Caputo ... Read more

Reviews (32)

The best book I've ever read including swank and hustler
This book is amazing, I couldn't stop reading it, it was the most useful book on any subject I've ever read. I am already anticipating his next book, which I will buy even if its on the mating habits of Brazilian Yak, if you are reading this review then buy the book. Its not software specific, which I love because I use Softimage and 3Dmax, the book got me excited to come home and do 3d even after a long annoying day of doing it at work, its as if this book was written directly to me, it answered every question I ever had about lighting and rendering, it was inspiring, I have bought 6 computer books this summer so far ranging from Flash to Maya, and all were a let down except this one, its a must have

Good Art Book + A Masterpiece of Technical Writing
Digital Lighting & Rendering is a terrific art book, the advice on designing lighting schemes and camera work are first rate - even to someone who has already read several of the texts on cinematography. But it is also one of the best-written books I've seen for explaining technical issues and rendering algorithms. Even the beginning chapters, on issues with which I was very familiar, had new things to say and were surprisingly informative (and non-condescending - there's less filler material here than in most of these books.) As an advanced user of Lightwave and (more recently) Maya with Renderman, I felt like I really hit pay-dirt in the last two chapters, with lots of useful advice on multi-pass compositing techniques, including some tricks I hadn't thought of. Shaders and global illumination techniques were defined and illustrated in a way that cleared-up a lot of the ambiguities of what I had seen in the software manuals and web postings on the approaches. All-around, this is the best book-buy I've made all year. I HIGHLY recommend Digital Lighting & Rendering to anyone (at almost any skill-level) who wants to make better renderings - It's helping me already, and I've only owned it for a week! Great Book, Mr.Birn!

Lights...Camera.... REALISM!!!
An in-depth look on the principles behind CG lighting, cinematography, rendering etc...This book covers almost all the technicalities in 3D graphics. Not only does it concentrate on developing 3D skills, but also the enhancement of one's artistic abilities and precepts. Really, this book is a must have, or might as well say, a necessity for all 3D beginners and enthusiasts. HAPPY RENDERING!!!

A missing manual
A very good book that bridges the gap between technical 3d graphics skill and the development of artistic technique. Not application specific and helpful for more than just computer 3d graphics, much of the information applies to all types of traditional lighting as well.

As a beginner I have found this most helpful
I'm about 2/3 of the way through it and this book has done more to clear up technical issues about light and color than anything else I've seen. The straight dope, no fluff and plain language, everything explained from the ground up, but it never reads like a beginner's book. Highly recommended. ... Read more

Book Description

Principles of Optics is one of the classic science books of the twentieth century, and probably the most influential book in optics published in the past forty years. This edition has been thoroughly revised and updated, with new material covering the CAT scan, interference with broad-band light and the so-called Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction theory. This edition also details scattering from inhomogeneous media and presents an account of the principles of diffraction tomography to which Emil Wolf has made a basic contribution. Several new appendices are also included. This new edition will be invaluable to advanced undergraduates, graduate students and researchers working in most areas of optics. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Good book
It is just a rare book on physical optics based on Maxwell equations. Rarely a book states the assumptions,the validity of the equations, the principles and how the equations arrived. Certainly, it is a great book for postgraduates and researchers in physical optics not so for undergraduate students who don't want to go through all the mathematics.

A Classic
This book is a classic with all problems associated. Half of the reference quoted have been written before the WWII. Very useful if you like to quote original papers. This book cover most topics of the classical optics but hardy cover modern topics.

However, it is hard to read and use a weird notation. Certainly not useful for rapid referencing. Like the bible, use it only when you have serious problem to deal with.

the reference.
It is of course the reference for optics, and is very complete
and rigorous. I didn't learn optics from it, I only use it
as a reference and I suppose that is its function.
It feels a bit oldfashioned (for example, I haven't found
speckel applications in the chapter on coherence) but I
suppose that that is due to the fact that it is a classic.
My other, personal, objection is that I hate Gaussian
units, I prefer by far SI units. Even Jackson finally
conceded to switch to SI units, but Wolf clings on this
Gaussian system.

Good professional reference book, but not for students.
Already for many years, this is a classic on optics. Almost any subject you can think of is covered in this book, in a fundamental way. That is its strength and its weakness: experienced scientists will find everything they need, but for students it is not a good book because it is far to detailed: they will get lost in all the mathematical details before they grasp the essence of the subject.

This problem also exists - to a lesser extent - for professionals who try to use the book to fill in a gap in their knowledge: they too will find themselves asking why they have to read so many (well thought-through) pages before the authors finally make their point.

My advice: use other books to study from, and use this book when you are already experienced and need a high-quality reference work.

A note for scienctists: please mention section numbers when referring to this book in your own publications.

excellent to study from
The Born and Wolf Principles of Optics text is, without a doubt, a classic. At first, it was hard for me to get into the text because I could not see a physics test without problems or exercises at the end of every chapter, but I realized, through this book, that there was a better way to study. Now I'm getting more out of all the texts and journals I study by internalizing the information through memorization and so on instead of learning just enough to work the problems. What I learn from Born and Wolf will take me a long way. ... Read more

Book Description

An excellent primer for students beginning to study the subject, this current edition provides a practical, real-world perspective on the fundamentals of fiber optic technology and optical communications.It examines the reasons that optical fibers are the preferred communications medium, surpassing copper wire in all performance measures.A thorough explanation of how fibers work is offered, as well as useful coverage of other related optical components and how those components fit into system-level applications.Premises (LAN), metro, 10G Ethernet, and long-haul applications are also briefly surveyed. ... Read more

Book Description

Accurate, authoritative and comprehensive, Optics, Fourth Edition has been revised to provide readers with the most up-to-date coverage of optics. The market leader for over a decade, this book provides a balance of theory and instrumentation, while also including the necessary classical background. The writing style is lively and accessible.For college instructors, students, or anyone interested in optics. ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Too much fancy Talk, Not enough Examples
As an undergraduate I find this book incredibly confusing. Hecht seems to take pleasure in using fancy words and hyped up sentences when simpler statements will do. Instead of deriving equations by first starting with intuiton, then using substitution of previous results etc, he prefers to talk his way into derivations using sometimes page long reasoning. Sometimes it's Ok to let the equations speak for themselves. If this is considered the standard in optics textbooks I am afraid of opening the mess that other textbooks must be.

Great intro to Optics!
This is a wonderful introduction to the field of optics for an undergraduate with some background in physics and vector calculus (ideally a student at least in his or her sophomore year). The book has been said to be somewhat on the longer side, but because of the organization of the book it is easy to skip a couple of chapters that may be better covered in labs (e.g. geometrical optics and modern optics). Hecht has a clear style, outlines the required vector calculus and the wave equation in early chapters, which prepares the student for the rest of the book. Great stuff!

bad book!!! wasting time!!!
it is difficult to learn from. NO examples are found and I often found myself reading a section several times and still not feeling confident that I understood it.

Clear
I like this book. It explains things well. It's very well written and easy to read. It has a lot of data, well organized.

However, I think students ought to be disturbed by the outrageous $108 price tag. I happened by accident to have purchased instead a brand-new version of the special "low cost" edition - intended for distribution only *outside* the US and Canada - that, even with the secondary dealer markup, cost me under thirty bucks - and still presumeably left them a profit.

Feeling ripped off yet?

A good book if you're not in a hurry...
The best thing about Hecht's book are the long and thorough discussions about every topic. This makes the book very adequate for self studying. On the other hand, it can be very incovenient if you're using to book to study for your exams (as I did). So I do recomend Hecht as a first reading in Optics, but be sure that you're not in a hurry... ... Read more

Book Description

The most complete and lucid nonmathematical study of light available. Chapters are self-contained, making the book flexible and easy to read. Coverage includes such non-traditional topics as processes of vision and the eye, atmospherical optical phenomena, color perception and illusions, color in nature and in art, Kirilian photography, and holography. Includes experiments that can be carried out with simple equipment. Chapters contain optional advanced sections, and appendixes review the mathematics for quantitative aspects. Illustrated, including a four-color insert. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Seeing the Light
Book arrived in great shape. Like new!!

most missed book
This is the best textbook I ever had, and I sold it for some ($$$) at the end of a semester to buy a bus ticket. Very mad; I miss the book, but it's so expensive. It's amazing the way the author incorporates all sorts of literary allusions in this physics book, such as offering an interesting hypothesis on the optical illusion of the egyptians getting swallowed by the red sea while chasing the jews. Every chapter, light becomes a metaphor for so many things, the way we see, the obstacles, etc.

Physics of light for everyone else
I first discovered this book when I asked a physics professor down the hall for an explanation of diffraction and refraction in relation to some daytime sky phenomenon. He handed me Seeing the Light, and before long I coveted the volume. The authors dress down optical physics into explanations that anyone with a rudimentary knowledge of physics can understand, relating optical phenomenon to everyday events and objects. The diagrams and photos help clarify the explanation. And practical, hands-on suggested activities help drive the point home. This book would be great for physics teachers -- or teachers at any level. How about pinhole cameras or illusion drawings for class projects? ... Read more

Book Description

Nonlinear optical studies of periodic dielectric structures have blossomed in the past two decades. New fabrication techniques are producing fiber grating and multidimensional photonic crystals in materials where the refractive index can be varied by light pulses and beams. Gap solitons that can propagate at any velocity from zero to the speed of light and spatial solitons that prevent the diffractive spread of light in waveguide arrays are two examples of the new phenomena described in this book. Microstructured optical fibers allow control of the guided mode dispersion for broadband light generation and new soliton phenomena. Many new materials and structures are being developed that will impact new optical devices with applications in optical communications and optical data processing. ... Read more

Book Description

Liquid crystals are a state of matter that possess properties of both solid and liquids. Owing to its unique physical properties, liquid crystals have found important applications in optics and optoelectronics, including the expanding technology of flat panels. This book presents an engineering-oriented, practical treatment of the optics of liquid crystal displays. It covers all aspects of the technology, beginning with the simplest case of plane wave propagation in homogeneous media, and gradually building up to more advanced concepts. With few books available even on related subjects, this title certainly fills a gap in the field. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A very helpfull and readable textbook
A few fundamental principles like Maxwell's equations are used in the book to develop successful theory. Thorough examples help to apply the theory to very broad range of actual technological problems of modern optical science. It makes the book of great use to graduate students and to anyone having good mathematical background. ... Read more

Book Description

The only comprehensive treatment of nanophotonics currently available
Photonics is an all-encompassing optical science and technology which has impacted a diverse range of fields, from information technology to health care. Nanophotonics is photonic science and technology that utilizes light-matter interactions on the nanoscale, where researchers are discovering new phenomena and developing technologies that go well beyond what is possible with conventional photonics and electronics. These new technologies could include efficient solar power generation, high-bandwidth and high-speed communications, high-capacity data storage, and flexible- and high-contrast displays. In addition, nanophotonics will continue to impact biomedical technologies by providing new and powerful diagnostic techniques, as well as light-guided and activated therapies.
Nanophotonics provides the only available comprehensive treatment of this exciting, multidisciplinary field, offering a wide range of topics covering:
* Foundations
* Materials
* Applications
* Theory
* Fabrication
Nanophotonics introduces students to important and timely concepts and provides scientists and engineers with a cutting-edge reference. The book is intended for anyone who wishes to learn about light-matter interactions on the nanoscale, as well as applications of photonics for nanotechnology and nanobiotechnology. Written by an acknowledged leader in the field, this text provides an essential resource for those interested in the future of materials science and engineering, nanotechnology, and photonics. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Test and Measurement Bible
This books stands heads and shoulders above anything else written so far on the test and measurement of fiber optic systems and components. The other reviewers have given details about the books content, so I'll say why I liked the book.

Two main reasons: 1) The authors go into detail regarding how different instruments work from physical principles. Such an understanding is useful in understanding a device's (and measurement's) accuracy and validity.

2) The practical tips and explanations on how to make measurement alone make this an essential reference. This book neatly compliments theoretical books and papers by explaining how the typical measurements you may read about in a journal article are made and the underlying issues that contribute/take away from a measurement's efficacy/accuracy.

Some of my colleagues say that because this book was written by HP people and the examples shown involve HP instruments, this book loses some value. If so, this loss is miniscule.

Most photonic test instruments, HP or not, work on more or less the same principles. Whether or not you own HP instruments, you will find this book an invaluable reference.

very useful book for test engineers
A very useful book for undertanding the issues involved in optical components and EDFA testing. It also explains the functioning of optical test instruments like OSA, TLS,Power Meters, OTDR etc which helps to undertand their limitations and potential.The author clearly brings out the measurement principle involved.

Essential Test and Measurement Book
This text is essential for anyone who wishes to test or measure optical sub-components, components, systems, or devices. Dennis lays out the fundamentals of each measurement in an easy to understand format. This is especially useful because this field is growing tremendously and often utilizes people from other fields who lack familiarity with these measurements. This book provides as easy to understand tutorial for people who need to learn these techniques. If you can't measure what you have very well, you don't know what you sent to your customer; and if they can't measure what you sent them, they don't know what they have.

Best book on Fiber Optic Testing
I have known the test and measuring work performed by HP people since 1989, specially the written work from Dr. Christian Hentschel (one of the authors of the book) on lightwave standards and test procedures. After working all these years in the fiber optic and optoelectronics field, I have found this precisious book, and I highly recommend it to every one who needs to work on fiber optic communications. For sure, this book will easly be a first reference on the field.

Best Book For Everyone in Fiber Telecommunication
I am an engineer in fiber telecommunication. I found this book is the best one for everyone in fiber optics industry. Not just theory, it gives you lots of real view how they test in HP. If you want to read this book, logon HP websit as a reference. If you are in optical industry, email me. I want to make more friends in this field. ... Read more

Book Description

Principles of Adaptive Optics is a comprehensive guide to adaptive optics systems and components. It covers all the basic principles, analytical tools, and instrumentation hardware included in an adaptive optics system. This single volume resource includes hundreds of references and outlines design and performance analysis of adaptive optics wavefront sensors, controls, correcting optics, and their integrated operation. The book discusses adaptive optics, system analysis and system design, and the major subsystems: wavefront sensors, correcting optics, wavefront reconstructors, and real-time controls. It details the principal equations that govern atmospheric turbulence compensation.
The book contains nearly 700 citations that cover a quarter century of research and development. It includes a new section on laser guide stars and their usage. It also includes recently declassified military information on laser guided stars and all the governing equations of wavefront error, imaging system resolution, beam tilt or wander, scintillation, temporal spectra, anisoplantism, and guide star position.

Key Features
* Comprehensive guide to adaptive optics systems and components
* Covers the background and history of adaptive optics technology
* Contains nearly 700 citations covering a quarter century of research and development
* Includes new section on laser guide stars and their usage
* Details all the principal equations that govern atmospheric turbulence compensation
* Lays out the equations necessary to calculate system performance
* Describes many types of optical disturbances and the pros and cons of various adaptive optics system configurations
* Describes in detail how wavefront sensors, reconstructors, and deformable mirrors work ... Read more

Book Description

This book by one of the leaders in adaptive optics covers the fundamental theory and then describes in detail how this technology can be applied to large ground-based telescopes to compensate for the effects of atmospheric turbulence. It includes information on basic adaptive optics components and technology, and has chapters devoted to atmospheric turbulence, optical image structure, laser beacons, and overall system design. The chapter on system design is particularly detailed and includes performance estimation and optimization. Combining a clear discussion of physical principles with numerous real-world examples, this book will be a valuable resource for all graduate students and researchers in astronomy and optics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The book is a must for readers interested in adaptive optics
The book does an excellent job of describing the basic principles and the practice of adaptive optics for astronomical applications.The author was a pioneer in adaptive optics and in the 1970s he built the first systemcapable of compensating a large astronomical telescope at visiblewavelengths.The book gives a good history of adaptive optics including anexcellent bibliography.Wavefront sensors, correctors, laser beacons, andwavefront reconstruction and control systems are described.Currentadaptive optics programs are described and future prospects are discussed. I had the good fortune of working with the author at the time the firstadaptive optics system was built and the author conveys in this book theexcitement we felt about adaptive optics at that time.While the book isvery specialized and technical, and the number of readers who will enjoythe book is limited, if you are interested in adaptive optics the readingof this book is a must. ... Read more

Book Description

A complete basic undergraduate-level course in modern optics for students in physics, technology and engineering. The first half deals with classical physical optics; the second, the quantum nature of light. Many applications of the laser to optics are integrated throughout the text. Problems and answers. 170 illustrations.
... Read more

Reviews (4)

There Are Superior Books!
This book by G.R. Fowles sufficies for one or two all-nighter studying sessions where a massive review of physical optics is needed.

The advantages to the book are that it is concise and attempts to cover a small fraction of the mathematics behind physical optics. Yet, there are some mistakes, such as an incorrect presentation of the forward Fourier Transform in the first chapters.

As far as the explanations and motivations for modern theoretical and applied optics, this book does not compare to "Optiks" by Born and Wolfe.

In essence, the books by Born or Hecht make this book the 'engineers reference' in the world of academia.

A Good View of the Forest
This book is well worth the price!! It offers a quick introduction to virtually any topic in optics, from ray propagation, to nonlinear optics, to mode locking. After reading the relevant section, one is prepared to read more detailed books. Also, it's great for equation checking (was that 2*Pi in the numerator or denominator??), because virtually all the key formulae are included and they're easy to find because it's so short!

Fowle's classic still covers the basics 25 years later
This is a classic introductory text on optics, that is still my first choice recommendation when people ask me for a reference to bring them up to speed on optics, optical phenomena and optical devices. It is concise, readable, and not over-rigourous; perfect for people new to the field who need to "come up to speed". Although there has been a spectacular growth in optics and photonics in the last 25 years, the fundamentals one needs to work in the field have not changed that much, and Fowle's text covers the optical bases well, from polarization to interference to lasers to non-linear optics; it's all here in a condensed readable format.

Nice and Inexpensive!
This book is nice and inexpensive. It's pretty worth purchasing! ... Read more

Reviews (5)

best book for the pro
this book consists almost everything u need to be a lithographer and is also concise and up-to-date!

also the price is not too high.

good book!

E-beam Lithography
The book provides a great overview of the Electron Beam Lithography, which was the material of interest for me. Material is conveyed in great detail while the meaning of the material is not necessarily constricted to the experts. As an undergraduate student, I found the material readable. I was also able to understand most of the information well and as a result I believe I have a good base of knowledge about lithography. I would definitely recommend this book to other students.

Great Text Book for Microlithography
The book give a very good overview of what microlithography is and it gives the recent advances in the field. I highly recommend it as something very good to have if your into the field of lithography and especially if you are a non engineer.

Very up to date information from leaders in the field.
I teach a graduate class in Microlithography and this is the best text I have seen to date. It contains all the modern techniques presented in an easy to read format. I highly recommend this text for all process engineers in the field or engineers wishing to learn more about this integrated circuit processing technique.

Excellent reference text for the lithographer!
Microlithography: Science and Technology has been a valuable reference text. I would recommend this book be on the desk of anyone in the field of microlithography. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Fantastic. A joy to look at and to read
This book consists of a number of fascinating photos drawn from the world of science. The pictures are works of art in themselves, and include a simple scale indicator to give you a clue whether what you're looking at is microscopic or full sized. The accompanying prose explains in a short description what you're looking at and why it's so interesting. The prose is brilliantly written and easy to read.

This book is not for scientists per se, but for anyone with a fascination for the world around them. A perfect accent to any coffee table.

Great photography book !
This is not a science book ! The photos are really great, but the name fooled me...it is not a book on surface science ! Just a photography book that have some phothos that were taken with the help of scientific media.....

Intriguing pictures and understandable explanations
As a student in Material Science and Engineering, I couldn't resist when I heard of this book, and I was not disappointed. Mrs. Frankel's photography is beautiful and illustrative without losing an artful touch as far as composition is concerned, and Mr. Whitesides' explanations can be easily grasped due to their intuitive approach. For someone who wants to know more about the science behind the effects the explanations may not be detailed enough, which is why I don't rate this book a ten, but whoever desires to gain an overview of surface effects and understand the basics of it, this is the book to read. I sincerely recommend this book. ... Read more

Book Description

This paperback reprint of a classic book deals with all phases of light, color, and color vision, providing comprehensive data, formulas, concepts, and procedures needed in basic and applied research in color vision, colorimetry, and photometry. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Worth the money
This book has a ton of useful information from lighing science to technical color computations. The book (bible) has allot of data charts that can be used for sample or comparision calculations. If you are involved in Optics, Lighting, Illumination, industrial, automotive or aerospace. Then you got to get his book! ... Read more

Book Description

Nonlinear optics is essentially the study of the interaction of strong laser light with matter.It lies at the basis of the field of photonics, the use of light fields to control other light fields and to perform logical operations.Some of the topics of this book include the fundamentals and applications of optical systems based on the nonlinear interaction of light with matter.Topics to be treated include: mechanisms of optical nonlinearity, second-harmonic and sum- and difference-frequency generation, photonics and optical logic, optical self-action effects including self-focusing and optical soliton formation, optical phase conjugation, stimulated Brillouin and stimulated Raman scattering, and selection criteria of nonlinear optical materials.

ú Covers all the latest topics and technology in this ever-evolving area of study that forms the backbone of the major applications of optical technology
ú Offers first-rate instructive style making it ideal for self-study
ú Emphasizes the fundamentals of non-linear optics rather than focus on particular applications that are constantly changing ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Not perfect, but nonetheless the best available
The field of nonlinear optics is actually much more general in scope than the name implies, and it finds large intersection with quantum mechanics, atomic physics and physical chemistry. It has applications in virtually all physical and life sciences. It's thus surprising that for such a useful and interesting subject, there would be such a shortage of good books! Fortunately, this book is excellent, and covers the subject thoroughly in both theory and application. An interesting feature of the book is that it covers the basic theory first from a classical perspective (i.e. nonlinear dipole polarization) and then rederives the basic results from semiclassical quantum theory. While the dielectric approach alone is adequate for solving problems (in fact, the quantum approach is useless in practice) the quantum background is fascinating to read and greatly helps in developing an intuitive picture of the physical mechanisms behind nonlinear processes. Boyd makes the nice choice of using Gaussian units, which is foreign to anybody but theoretical physics snobs but which eliminates a lot of useless notational complexity.

Unfortunately, the book is sometimes terse and occasionally presents results without sufficient derivation, especially for advanced concepts and applications. However, when it comes to the foundational elements of nonlinear optics, the book is always thorough and the concepts well explained. Boyd clearly has a very deep understanding of the subject, and this shows in his writing.

If you need to buy one book on nonlinear optics, this should probably be it. You might be temped to buy Shen or Bloembergen since they were such primary contributors to the field, but you will probably be disappointed in the quality of their exposition and confused by the notation.

A must
When I came to the field of nonlinear optics, the book provides me a clear, easy-understanding picture to the field so that I believe any of you can get into the field by use of the book. If you are looking for your first book to nonlinear optics, don't waste your time, it is. Even through my life in the research, I depended on it most of the time. It's too great. So...

A clear understanding of nonlinear optics
This is a great book to understand the nonlinear processes of frequency conversion of light. The derivation of the formulas are pretty clear. My only complaint is that it didn't discuss periodically poled crystals but I haven't found any books that covers it. Fortunally I was able to understand the material in Boyd's book to figure out how these crystals do frequency conversion on my own.

The better book for nonlinear optics
This book is certainly the better one for people who wants to learn nonlinear optics from the beginning. This book is using a very "physical" approach to perform a complete overview of nonlinear processes. It is really a must for all those who wants to go deeper in the world of nonlinear optical effects.

Good but could be better!
Actually this is the best introductory text for the newcomer to the exciting field of Nonlinear Optics.The text is clear and undoubtely the author readily explains very complicated Phenomena in a succinct yet understable way.Very comprehensive coverage too stretching from classically explainable effects to quantum derivations of Nonlinear interaction coefficients.The only fault is sometimes the introduction of formulas "coming from the sky" which is a very deprecable fact.On the whole a good book but could be better! ... Read more