Book Description

The material for these volumes has been selected from the past twenty years' examination questions for graduate students at University of California at Berkeley, Columbia University, the University of Chicago, MIT, State University of New York at Buffalo, Princeton University and University of Wisconsin. ... Read more

Book Description

This book is intended for designers of military and civil systems, such as systems for guiding and control, target acquisition, surveillance, laser range-finding, fiber-optical communications, thermal imaging and the like, as well as for designers of photodetectors for optical signal detection. The first question they face is how to detect an ultimately weak optical signal. This book gives the answer to this most important question.All the main types of photodetectors are considered, from photodiodes (including avalanche photodiodes) to focal plane arrays (FPA). Methods of matching photodetectors with preamplifiers are described. The pair photodetector plus preamplifier is treated as an integrated detection system. Much attention is paid to different types of noise and ways of maximising the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Foundations of theory of optimal filtering of photosignals are discussed taking due account of typical shapes of optical signals and noise spectra. Methods for tuning quasi-optimal filters to maximise the SNR are explained. The main problems associated with detection of low-level optical signals are considered: operation of avalanche photodiodes in photon count mode, filtering in the case of charge accumulation in FPA cells, and the effect of the number of pixels and geometry of FPAs on detection.Finally, using the examples of the laser range finder and IR Imager, we give guidelines for calculating the limiting parameters of optoelectronic systems to achieve the highest possible SNR.The book is based on many years' experience by the author and his colleagues in the development of photodetectors and FPAs.The book is aimed at research workers, engineers, students and postgraduates. ... 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

Book Description

Some of the most exciting developments in the optics and processing of nanostructured materials can be found in applied science and engineering. The topics covered in this book are at the cutting edge of research. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Recommendation of Optics of Nanostructured Materials
I highly recommend "Optics of Nanostructured Materials" to scientists and aspiring scientists who work in optics or whose work is even tangentially related to optics. Though the book is an edited collection of chapters there is a certain consistency of in the level of presentation. That level of presentation is better described in the plural: levels of presentation. The chapters tend to have extensive discussions of the physics and of the new intuition required to understand the sometimes quirky world of nanoscale physics: that regime where our classical and quantum views of the world meet. The intuitive picture is always accompanied by a thorough mathematical development of the subject matter. The mathematical presentation may be somewhat beyond the level of some undergraduates, though an undergradute with a grasp of PDE's and some exposure to quantum mechanics should have little trouble. There is very little taken for granted in the reader's background, though each chapter does move very rapidly from basic principles into the main discussion. For instance, the first chapter which deals with photonic crystals starts with Maxwell's equations but then progresses to a discussion of band structure in about two pages.

The text is prossibly of greatest value to graduate students and researchers. The subjects are, of course, bound together by the common thread of nanoscale optics. Beyond that common thread, the topics seem somewhat ecclectic. There are chapters on main stream subjects such as photonic crystals and quatum dots, but there are also delightful forays into subjects such as fractals, chaos, nonlinear spectroscopy, and the optics of smoke. For the active researcher, these chapters are a guide into new areas with multidisciplinary applications and where a wealth of open problems await discovery. These chapters differentiate this book from the all too common edited collections that seem to appear every few weeks whose contents may have great archival value but are completely uninspiring. A read through this book will leave any scientist with a pulse ready to run to his or her lab and get back to work, possibly on one of the topics discussed here. ... Read more

Book Description

Optical Sources, Detectors, and Systems presents a unified approach, from the applied engineering point of view, to radiometry, optical devices, sources, and receivers. One of the most important and unique features of the book is that it combines modern optics, electric circuits, and system analysis into a unified, comprehensive treatment.

The text provides physical concepts together with numerous data for sources and systems and offers basic analytical tools for a host of practical applications. Convenient reference sources, such as a glossary with explanatory text for specialized optical terminology, are included. Also, there are many illustrative examples and problems with solutions. The book covers many important, diverse areas such as medical thermography, fiber optical communications, and CCD cameras. It also explains topics such asD *, NEP, f number, RA product, BER, shot noise, and more.

This volume can be considered an essential reference for research and practical scientists working with optical and infrared systems, as well as a text for graduate-level courses on optoelectronics, optical sources and systems, and optical detection. Aproblem solution manual for instructors who wish to adopt this text is available.

Key Features
* Provides a unified treatment of optical sources, detectors, and applications
* Explains D *, NEP, f number, RA product, BER, shot noise, and more
* Contains numerous illustrative examples and exercises with solutions
* Extensively illustrated with more than 90 drawings and graphs ... Read more

Book Description

Here's an in-depth, design practitioner's study of helmet-mounted display and sight technology (HMD/HMS). This unique combination of advanced optics, computing, and electronics gives users a continuous, hands-free display of computer, 3-D, or virtual imaging. Authored by a leading aerospace engineer, Helmet-Mounted Displays and Sights takes a comprehensive look at this increasingly popular technology -- from the human factors associated with the use of HMDs, to design requirements of HMD/HMS, to new and future advances in image source and display technology, and more.

HMD/HMS engineers will find this guide to be valuable reading as it offers practical advice on evaluating various designs and technologies, selecting appropriate image sources, and designing helmet display systems that are more "human friendly." It also provides you with techniques and algorithms for computing and implementing head position and for stabilizing display images.

In addition to illustrating the latest image source display technologies, fiber optic image guides, and holographic optical elements, the book also introduces the concept of biodynamic interference and its effects on HMD systems. Chapters on viewing HMD images in dynamic environments and the problems of integrating HMD/HMS in aircraft and other vehicles add to the book's value for aviators and other HMD operators. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Extensive in theory, lacks in physical implementations.
Extensive theoretical coverage of the subject. The excessive use of acronims makes it almost impossible to study without interruption. The lack of a list of acronims is sour. Would like to see more experimentally oriented treatment of actual physical implementations to supplement the theoretical equations. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Excellent technology review of the promise of optics
This book provides an excellent review of the present and future application of optical science. I found it useful in providing reference points and applications for optics in the real world. Several policy directions should be taken note of by the US government. I am especially interested and doing research in the direction of LEDs for energy efficient white lighting. ... Read more

Book Description

Holographic Data Storage is an outstanding reference book on an exciting topic reaching out to the 21st century's key technologies. The editors, Hans J. Coufal (IBM), Demetri Psaltis (CalTech), and Glenn Sincerbox (University of Arizona), together with leading experts in this area of research from both academic research and industry, bring together the latest knowledge on this technique. The book starts with an introduction on the history and fundamentals, multiplexing methods, and noise sources. The following chapters describe in detail recording media, components, channels, platforms for demonstration, and competing technologies such as classical hard disks or optical disks. More than 700 references make this book the ultimate source of information for the years to come. The book is intended for physicists, optical engineers, and executives alike. ... 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.
... Read more

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

This textbook is intended for those second year undergraduates in science and engineeringwho will later need an understanding of electromagnetic theory and quantum mechanics. The classical physics of oscillations and waves is developed at a more advanced level than has been customary for the second year, providing a basis for the quantum mechanics that follows. In this new edition the Green's function is explained, reinforcing the integration of quantum mechanics with classical physics. The text may also form the basis of an "introduction to theoretical physics" for physics majors. The concluding chapters give special attention to topics in current wave physics: nonlinear waves, solitons, and chaotic behavior.

SOME PRAISE FOR PREVIOUS EDITIONS:

"The book has qualities that one looks for in an undergraduate text: good organization, lucid text, well-thought-out sample problems, and problems to develop solid understanding of the subject." -APPLIED MECHANICS REVIEWS

"... A stimulating book for the undergraduate who is strong mathematically." -CONTEMPORARY PHYSICS ... Read more

Book Description

"Whether communications, radar, transportation, or defense drives your interest in solid-state devices at microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies, this ready reference book provides you with a useful review of quasi-optical power combining and active integrated antennas. Brought to you in one convenient volume are key reprinted papers from leading experts in microwave technology. Their valuable perspectives range from the most current advances to historical developments. Included as a special feature is an invited paper, never-before-published, which presents an overview of quasi-optical power combining by noted authority J.W. Mink and colleagues. You will discover other helpful highlighted topics such as:

• Transmitting and receiving active antennas
• Spatial power combining oscillators
• Spatial combining amplifiers
• Beam control
• Active integrated antennas and quasi-optical systems
• Analysis and CAD
• Emerging technologies-two dimensional quasi-optics"

Sponsored by:
IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Good
Special topic for antenna application

Good
Special topic for antenna application ... Read more

Reviews (2)

errata
Errors in the MATLAB code, Antenna Engineering Using Physical Optics

There are errors in the MATLAB code files po09b, po13c, po15d, and po17b, most resulting from calls to previous versions of 3 m-file functions:

incorrect name-----------------correct name
unitr-------------------------norm01
crossr------------------------cross01
vlenr-------------------------length01

These errors can be corrected by making the following changes:

1. on m-file po09b, listed in pages 147-148 of the text, 4 lines must be changed:

line 22 is:
ut2=ones(Na,1)*unitr(crossr(un0,[1 0 0]));
but should be:
ut2=ones(Na,1)*norm01(cross01(un0,[1 0 0]));

line 24 is:
ut1=crossr(ut2,un0);
but should be:
ut1=cross01(ut2,un0);

line 49 is:
urs=unitr([rs zeros(Na,1)]);
but should be:
urs=norm01([rs-ones(size(DSa))*r0]);

line 50 is:
ups=crossr(uns,urs);
but should be:
ups=cross01(uns,urs);

2. on m-file po13c, listed in pages 202-203 of the text, 3 lines must be changed:

line 59 is:
alr=atan(2*Fl./vlenr(rr));
but should be:
alr=atan(2*Fl./length01(rr-rr(:,3)*[0 0 1]));

line 62 is:
u2r=unitr(crossr(unr,ones(Nr,1)*[1 0 0]));
but should be:
u2r=norm01(cross01(unr,ones(Nr,1)*[1 0 0]));

line 63 is:
u1r=crossr(u2r,unr);
but should be:
u1r=cross01(u2r,unr);

3. on m-file po15d, listed on pages 222-224 of the text, 1 line must be changed:

line 26 is:
u2bf=unitr(cross01(unbf,[1 0 0]));

but should be:
u2bf=norm01(cross01(unbf,[1 0 0]));

4. on m-file po15e, listed on pages 222-224 of the text, 1 line must be changed:

line 18 is:
EscJ=-Z0*cross01(ut(nb,:),HscJ); % source E field
HscM=1/Z0*cross01(ut(nb,:),EscM); % source E field
but should be:
EscJ=-Z0*cross01(unb(nb,:),HscJ); % source E field
HscM=1/Z0*cross01(unb(nb,:),EscM); % source E field

5. on m-file po17b, listed on pages 254-257 of the text, 2 lines must be changed:

line 24 is:
u2c1=unitr(cross01(unc1,[1 0 0]));
but should be:
u2c1=norm01(cross01(unc1,[1 0 0]));

line 64 is:
u2c2=unitr(cross01(unc2,[1 0 0]));
but should be:
u2c2=norm01(cross01(unc2,[1 0 0]));

Antenna Engineer
Good book.It really goes into detail.The MATLAB code does not work due to missing functions "unitr" and "crossr". ... 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

Book Description

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