Amazon.com

Computers you notice. They sit on your desk and hum, ever smaller, ever faster, and always obsolete if bought longer ago than last week. But the equally impressive technology that turns millions of terminals into a global network is less obvious. The phone line that comes into your house probably still pushes electrons through metal. But not far away, the signal will join millions of others relayed down fiber optic cables by laser. Jeff Hecht's fascinating account of this undersung technology goes back 150 years to find the origins of fiber optics. Then he chronicles the many ingenious and determined engineers who fashioned it into a technology that festoons the globe with cables carrying pulses of photons. It was harder than pioneering copper links because supplanting an existing technology needs more persuasion than establishing the first one. And there was competition from the satellite industry, as well as unexpected setbacks, such as sharks who ignored copper but chewed fiber optic cables. Hecht tells a good tale, combining a light journalistic touch with a scholarly knowledge of the industry he has covered for over two decades. The story is not over yet, but this is a rich account of how we got this far in a technology that really has fueled a revolution. --Jon Turney, Amazon.co.uk ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Comprehensive History of Fiber Optics
Fiber optics, the backbone of local and international communications and of the Internet, seems like a new technology, but in this comprehensive history of the field Jeff Hecht describes the Victorian origins of light guiding via jets of water.  In the first half of the 20th century a number of researchers independently discovered flexible glass fibers, and with the introduction of the laser in the 1950s long-distance optical communication became a possibility.  The main section of the book focuses on the work of researchers in Britain, Japan, and the United States from the 1950s through the 1980s as they overcome many technical problems and develop the beginnings of modern fiber optic cables, documenting the failures, the dead-ends, and the ultimate success in the early 1980s.  Extensively researched and annotated, with much material from primary sources, City of Light is accessible to the non-technical reader, yet has enough detail and links to additional sources to satisfy students of engineering history.

Good explanation of "where it all came from"
Hecht does a good job of explaining where the technology of fiber optics communications came from. His book is not an explanation of how fiber optics communications works, but a history. I have a reasonably good background in fiber optics communications so it's difficult for me to judge whether someone who knew nothing about it would find it easy to follow, although I think they would.

I would particularly recommend the book to fiber optic techies - it really makes the technology more meaningful when you understand how the technology developed. A fine job by a good writer - very close to five stars.

And if you're technically oriented and want more knowledge of fiber optic technology, I'd recommend "Optical Networks" by Ramaswami and Sivarajan.

weak on the last 10 years
This is book has a wealth of information on the early years of fibre optics that I have not seen anywhere else. It is full of names and brief explanations of their contribution. But overall I thought this was a dull, slow moving book with little insight. More of an ongoing collection of notes that have been put together for another better book on the history of fibre once the real story finally emerges. There is very little science here. You won't learn much about light physics or why the technology works -only that it does and who patented it. (But the science may be reserved for Hecht's other book.) Also , for those who are trying to keep up with Gilder this book will be disappointing. There is nothing on DWDM (one brief, unexplained mention) or nothing that maps out the current players, companies, or technologies. (I can tell that Gilder has read it because some of the historical facts have been mentioned in the GTR) But there are only a few pages at the end that try to update where the technology has been in the last 10 years, where it is going or why. Huge gaps where a technology is mentioned but not even defined, much less explained. I wish there was a better book on the subject, but for now this is it, and maybe it is worth reading for that reason alone. Sorry to be so critical, but if you like Burke's "Connections" this will only get you lost. It probably would not have been published but for the sudden surge in tech stocks. I hope the Slone series is not all like this.

Excellent book!
The author has an easy narrative style, even though clarity is obstructed by poetic wax in a few places.

I am amazed out how much information about fiber optics I have absorbed without study.

If you like techie stuff, you'll love this book. If you like Dilbert, you'll love this book.

Read it!

This book is thorough, well written and entertaining!
Hecht makes fiber optics understandable to even the most non-technical of us. The constant stream of anecdotes keeps you turning the pages. The stories from the laboratories are great. You really get the feel for the personalities of the competing scientists. I would reccomend this book to anyone intersted in the field or interested in technology in general and how an invention is born from a parlor trick and becomes a telecommunications necessity. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

good introduction to Fourier transforms and optics
This book is a good introduction to the theory of Fourier series, transforms, and optics. It assumes no previous knowledge of Fourier theory. Topics covered include the basics of Fourier series and transforms, the convolution theorem, coherent and incoherent imaging, and diffraction. Several example applications are treated as well, such as the theory of simple stellar and spectral interferometers.

Despite covering all of these topics, this is a short book (185 pages). The writing is clear but not overly mathematical. The book is a good general introduction for a scientist of engineering interested in Fourier optics, but it will not substitute for a more technical and rigorous treatment.

Paul Voyles

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Book Description

This is the first comprehensive book on thin-film solar cells which might become a key technology to solve the energy production problem in the 21st century in an environmentally friendly way. It covers a wide range of scienctific and technologic aspects of thin film semiconductors - deposition technologies, growth mechanism and the basic properties of amorphous silicon, nano-crystalline silicon - as well as the optimum design theory and device physics of high-efficiency solar cells, especially of single-junction and multi-junction solar cells. The development of large-area solar cell modules consists of single and multi-junction solar cells. Examples of recent photovoltaic systems are discussed. ... Read more

Book Description

This is the first book dedicated exclusively to all-reflective imaging systems. It is a teaching tool as well as a practical design tool for anyone who specializes in optics, particularly for those interested in telescopes, infrared, and grazing-incidence systems. The first part of the book describes a unified geometric optical theory of all-reflective imaging systems (from near-normal to grazing incidence) developed from basic principles. The second part discusses correction methods and a multitude of closed-form solutions of well-corrected systems, supplemented with many conventional and unconventional designs examples. This book will be useful to anyone interested in the theory of optical image formation and in the actual design of image-forming instruments. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Korsch was a master
This book is excellent. Korsch is especially good at grazing incidence optics for X-rays (gamma, etc.).I used this book a lot when I worked with X-ray systems for NASA. ... Read more

Book Description

This applications-oriented book covers a variety of interrelated topics under the study of optics. For physics and engineering, it covers lasers and fiber optics, emphasizing applications to the optics of vision. For optometry, it discusses the optics of the eye, geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, and polarization.Emphasizing the optics of vision, the book presents a vital and interesting applications of optical principles. It also includes several specialized sections on vision: a history of vision and spectacles; the use of vergences to handle refraction of the eye; the use of vergence to handle errors in refraction of the eye; optics of cyndrical lenses and application to astigmatism; aberrations in vision; structures and optical models of the eye; and the use of lasers in therapy for ocular defects.A valuable reference on optics for professional optometrists, physicists, and engineers. ... Read more

Book Description

Laser Processing and Chemistry gives an overview of the fundamentals and applications of laser-matter interactions, in particular with regard to laser material processing. Special attention is given to laser-induced physical and chemical processes at gas-solid, liquid-solid, and solid-solid interfaces. Starting with the background physics, the book proceeds to examine applications of laser techniques in micro-machining, and the patterning, coating, and modification of material surfaces. This third edition has been revised and enlarged to cover new topics such as the synthesis of nanoclusters and nanocrystalline films, ultrashort-pulse laser processing, laser polishing, cleaning, and lithography. Graduate students, physicists, chemists, engineers, and manufacturers alike will find this book an invaluable reference work on laser processing. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A must have
This is a must have for anybody involved in laser interactions or laser processing. ... Read more

Book Description

The third edition of this popular text and reference book presents the fundamental principles for understanding and applying optical fiber technology to sophisticated modern telecommunication systems.

Optical-fiber-based telecommunication networks have become a major information-transmission-system, with high capacity links encircling the globe in both terrestrial and undersea installations. Numerous passive and active optical devices within these links perform complex transmission and networking functions in the optical domain, such as signal amplification, restoration, routing, and switching. Along with the need to understand the functions of these devices comes the necessity to measure both component and network performance, and to model and stimulate the complex behavior of reliable high-capacity networks. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

A new text book with the price of Old book.
It looks like new in a sealed cover but for the price of old text book.

Excellent introduction to the field
Keiser provides an excellent introduction to the field for those enetering the optical communications arena. He progresses from the fundamental bases for electromagnetic propagation in dielectric waveguides to specific practices and principles related to implementation of optical fiber in communications systems. Although the treatment of some commonplace modulation techniques in current practice is a bit light, this volume definitely helps to get one's feet wet in the discipline. Highly recommended for students, as well as those just entering the professional arena.

A Nice Starting Text Book For Fiber Communication Engineers
The book starting from the evolution of optical communication system, the basic theory of the wave guides including the optical fibers, introduces us the whole image of the fiber communication systems, which includs the light generation, propagation, revceiving, manipulation.... The optical links and networks become the high level topics of the book. It is really a good starting book for fiber communication engineers because of its systematic organization, explicitive language. ... Read more

Book Description

The book provides an introduction to the methods of quantum statistical mechanics used in quantum optics and their application to the quantum theories of the single-mode laser and optical bistability. The generalized representations of Drummond and Gardiner are discussed together with the more standard methods for deriving Fokker--Planck equations. Particular attention is given to the theory of optical bistability formulated in terms of the positive P-representation, and the theory of small bistable systems. This is a textbook at an advanced graduate level. It is intended as a bridge between an introductory discussion of the master equation method and problems of current research. ... Read more

Book Description

The material in this Field Guide is a condensed version of similar material found in two textbooks: 'Laser Beam Propagation through Random Media' (SPIE Vol. PM53) and 'Laser Beam Scintillation with Applications' (SPIE Vol. PM99). Topics chosen for this concise presentation include a review of classical Kolmogorov turbulence theory, Gaussian-beam waves in free space, and atmospheric effects on a propagating optical wave. These atmospheric effects have great importance in a variety of applications like imaging, free space optical communications, laser radar, and remote sensing. This Guide presents tractable mathematical models from which the practitioner can readily determine beam spreading, beam wander, spatial coherence radius (Fried's parameter), angle of arrival fluctuations, scintillation, aperture averaging effects, fade probabilities, bit error-rates, and enhanced backscatter effects, among others. ... Read more

Book Description

The field of Adaptive Optics (AO) for astronomy has matured in recent years, and diffraction-limited image resolution in the near-infrared is now routinely achieved by ground-based 8 to 10m class telescopes. This book presents the proceedings of the ESO Workshop on Science with Adaptive Optics held in the fall of 2003. The book provides an overview on AO instrumentation, data acquisition and reduction strategies, and covers observations of the sun, solar system objects, circumstellar disks, substellar companions, HII regions, starburst environments, late-type stars, the galactic center, active galaxies, and quasars. The contributions present a vivid picture of the multitude of science topics being addressed by AO in observational astronomy. ... Read more

Book Description

This volume introduces the subject of laser ablation and desorption to scientists and engineers. It covers fundamental experimental and theoretical tools, models, and techniques, and introduces the most important applications. Clearly written and organized in a straightforward manner, Laser Ablation and Desorption lead the reader straight through the fundamentals of laser-surface interactions. Each chapter is self-contained and includes references to other chapters as necessary, so that readers may begin with the topic of greatest interest and follow the references to other aspects of the subject contained within the book.

Key Features
* Provides up-to-date information about one of the most active fields in physics today
* Written and edited by major figures in the field of laser ablation and desorption
* Represents the most comprehensive treatment of the state-of-the-art available ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A handy referance for the excimer folks
This book is great for getting a general sense of the physics behind laser ablation. In the first half it treats the reader to a review of laser ablation at several wave lengths (from CO2 to excimer); not only the theory but also some experimental techniques. In the second, the editors present a very nice discussion of various aplications. ... Read more

Book Description

Nonlinear Fiber Optics, 3rd Edition, provides a comprehensive and up-to-date account of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside optical fibers. It retains most of the material that appeared in the first edition, with the exception of Chapter 6, which is now devoted to the polarization effects relevant for light propagation in optical fibers. The contents include such important topics as self- and cross-phase modulation, stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering, four-wave mixing, modulation instability, and optical solutons. A proper understanding of these topics is essential for scientists and engineers interested in various aspects of lightwave technology.

Such an ambitious objective increased the size of the book to the extent that it was necessary to create a separate but complimentary book, Applications of Nonlinear Fiber Optics, which is devoted to applications in the domain of lightwave technology.

This revised edition of Nonlinear Fiber Optics should serve well the needs of the scientific community including graduate students in Optics, Physics, and Electrical Engineering, engineers in the optical communication industry, and scientists working in fiber optics and nonlinear optics.

* Only book dealing with Nonlinear Fiber Optics
* Comprehensive up-to-date coverage of the entire field
* Problems at the end of each chapter suitable for a course
* Focus on fundamental aspects
* Can be used by graduate students doing research in or taking courses in nonlinear optics and optical communications ... Read more

Reviews (2)

A quantitative text on nonlinear fiber optics
This is a serious book written at a graduate-student or advanced-under-graduate level for the practicing professional employed in designing optical telecommunications systems and components. I don't think the book was written with students particularly in mind, since (for example) there are no examples or problems in the book as typically found in university course work In his introduction, Agrawal says "[t]he book is aimed for researchers already engaged in or wishing to enter the filed of nonlinear fiber optics." As the title suggests, the book's emphasis is on nonlinear effects in optical fibers, as opposed to nonlinear effects in bulk materials.

The first chapter is pretty basic, and is mostly review material that describes things like the index cross section in an optical fiber, material issues, fabrication, chromatic dispersion, modal birefringence (which leads to polarization mode dispersion), non linear refraction and stimulated inelastic scattering. The review here is pretty brief (the chapter has only about 25 pages).

Chapter two develops the mathematics of wave propagation in optical fibers, including the mathematics of mode propagation and basic propagation equations derived from Maxwell's equations. This chapter actually develops several different differential equations; each based on various assumptions applicable to different pulse widths. These differential equations then form the basis for later investigations into various non-linear effects discussed in the book. Chapter two is thus a foundational chapter and should be read and understood completely before moving on. There is a brief discussion at the end of the chapter that describes numerical methods.

Chapter three describes group-velocity dispersion, including chromatic dispersion as well as dispersion-induced pulse broadening and higher-order dispersion and their implications for optical systems.

Chapter four introduces self-phase modulation and self steepening.

Chapter five describes optical solitons (including fundamental and higher order solitions), soliton lasers, and soliton-based communications systems.

Chapter 6 describes some techniques for optical pulse compression using gratings and chirped optical pulses. It also describes soliton-effect compressors.

Chapter 7 is devoted to the subject of cross-phase modulation, chapter 8 to stimulated Raman scattering, chapter 9 to stimulated Brillouin scattering, and chapter 10 to parametric processes, including four-wave mixing, parametric gain, and phase matching.

The book is quantitative, making (as you'd expect in a graduate text) liberal use of mathematics. The level of mathematics, however, should be well within the grasp of senior college students majoring in physics, engineering, or mathematics. The subject, however, is non-trivial, and you should expect this book to present a real intellectual challenge in reading and understanding all the details. I took about six months to finish the book, including time taken to fill in some details in the derivations and to plot some of the equations on my computer.

Agrawal makes good use of figures and illustrations, which I found particularly helpful. The book also has an adequate index that makes the book more valuable as a desk reference.

Each chapter cites a wealth of reference material in the literature so that any subject covered within its pages can be studied in more detail and from the original sources.

I would not make this a first study of nonlinear optics (although it was for me). Rather, I'd look for texts that discuss nonlinear effects qualitatively, and I'd try to expose myself to experiments that illustrate these nonlinear effects to gain a more qualitative understanding before diving into Agrawal's mathematical derivations. With a more qualitative basis first acquired, however, Agrawal's book is an invaluable tool for understanding the most obscure nonlinear effects in optical fibers.

The definitive sourcebook for nonlinear fibre phenomenon
This book is the first and foremost reference book on many aspects of nonlinear fibre effect. It is written for non-experts in fibres but is also an invaluable resource for those who are.

It starts off with a quick review of linear fibre characteristics (dispersion, loss, fabrication) and devotes a chapter each to a systematic study of how dispersion without nonlinearity and nonlinearity without dispersion affect pulse propagation. Higher order nonlinearity and dispersion are also covered.

From this introduction, the problem of having both nonlinearity and dispersion present is introduced, leading to solitons. This treatment does not go deeply into the algebraic solution of the NLS equation, but gives a good background of the properties of solitons.

Several other topics are covered which span a broad array of important nonlinear phenomenon in optical fibres under active research. This seems to be the book to buy if you need to know about solitons and other nonlinear effects, and is continually referenced. ... Read more

Book Description

Thin Films for Optical Coating emphasizes the applications of thin films, deposition of thin films, and thin film characterization. Unlike monographs on this subject, this book presents the views of many expert authors. Individual chapters span a wide arc of topics within this field of study. The book offers an introduction to usual and unusual applications of optical thin films, treating in a more qualitative way general topics such as anticounterfeiting coatings, decorative coatings, light switches, contrast enhancement coatings, multiplexers, optical memories, and more. Contributors review thin film media for optical data storage, UV broadband and narrow-band filters, and optically active thin film coatings. Ion beam sputtering and magnetron sputtering deposition methods are described in detail. Characterization techniques are provided, including Raman spectroscopy and absorption measurements. The book also offers theories on light scattering of thin dielectric films and the electromagnetic properties of nanocermet thin films.This reference incorporates recent research by the individual authors with their views of current developments in their respective fields. Of particular interest to the reader will be an assessment of the historical developments of thin film physics written by one of the fathers of thin film technology, Professor M. Auwärter. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is intended for a one semester course in optics for juniors and seniors in science and engineering; it uses Mathcad(R) scripts to provide a simulated laboratory where students can learn by exploration and discovery instead of passive absorption.

The text covers all the standard topics of a traditional optics course, including: geometrical optics and aberration, interference and diffraction, coherence, Maxwell's equations, wave guides and propagating modes, blackbody radiation, atomic emission and lasers, optical properties of materials, Fourier transforms and FT spectroscopy, image formation, and holography. It contains step by step derivations of all basic formulas in geometrical, wave and Fourier optics.

The basic text is supplemented by over 170 Mathcad files, each suggesting programs to solve a particular problem, and each linked to a topic in or application of optics. The computer files are dynamic, allowing the reader to see instantly the effects of changing parameters in the equations. Students are thus encouraged to ask "what...if" questions to asses the physical implications of the formulas.

The book is written for the study of particular projects but can easily be adapted to a variation of related studies. The three-fold arrangement of text, applications, and files makes the book suitable for "self-learning" by by scientists or engineers who would like to refresh their knowledge of optics. All files are printed out and are available on a CD and may well serve as starting points to find solutions to more complex problems as experienced by engineers in their applications.

The Mathcad(r) scripts on the CD are provided in both Mathcad(r) 7 and Mathcad(r) 2000, and as PDF files. ... Read more

Book Description

For students in engineering and physics.Comprehensive problems are provided in waves, refraction, interference, diffraction, scattering, polarization, mirrors, and lenses.Among other topics treated in detail are prisms, dispersion, aberration, photometry, color, and holography. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A solid comprehensive optics assist
I found this book to be an excellent resource for the topic. The author has covered the major subtopics in the field. His examples are varied and well worded. I was impressed with the number of different problem types. His solutions are thorough, and he uses diagrams throughout the book. The math is sufficient and not oversimplified and requires an advanced knowledge of math techniques. This book is written for a serious student of optics, and is an excellent supplement for such students. ... Read more

Book Description

This book explains the subject of optoelectronic devices and their use in integrated optics and fiber optic systems. The approach taken is to emphasize the physics of how devices work and their various applications. Mathematical derivations and the development of design equations are provided where necessary to explain phenomena and engineering principles, but a strong effort has been made not to obscure important concepts with mathematical details. Illustrations and references from technical journals have been used to demonstrate the relevance of the theory to currently important topics in industry. By reading this book, scientists, engineers, students and engineering managers can obtain an overall view of the theory and the most recent technology in Integrated Optics. In this fifth edition all chapters have been revised and updated. The chapters on Polymer and Fiber Integrated Optics, Optical Amplifiers, Micro-Optical-Electro-Mechanical Devices, and Photonic and Microwave Wireless Systems are completely new. A generous selection of problems will help students to deepen their knowledge.

FROM THE REVIEWS:

APPLIED OPTICS "It is a good book because of its precise language and its didactic organization (with many clear tables), it is exhaustive in its details, and rigorous in its background; it is well suited for a graduate-level course...a good book." ... Read more

Book Description

This invaluable textbook presents the basic elements needed to understand and research into semiconductor physics. It deals with elementary excitations in bulk and low-dimensional semiconductors, including quantum wells, quantum wires and quantum dots. The basic principles underlying optical nonlinearities are developed, including excitonic and many-body plasma effects. Fundamentals of optical bistability, semiconductor lasers, femtosecond excitation, the optical Stark effect, the semiconductor photon echo, magneto-optic effects, as well as bulk and quantum-confined Franz–Keldysh effects, are covered. The material is presented in sufficient detail for graduate students and researchers with a general background in quantum mechanics. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Good one time reading.
The book is truly a required reading for anyone, who wants to work in the field of semiconductor opticas. The choice of topics and the presentation are excellent. However, the book does not go really deep in any of the topics, therefore I doubt that anyone will read this book more than once or use it as a reference.
Some topic and, especially, equations may seem too overused in later books and review papers, but apparently this book was the first to present them and here they are truly enlightening.
... Read more