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.

Customer Reviews (25)

Wonderful
As an introductory book teaching classical (and some modern) optics, this wonderful book is difficult to beat.

It prepares you remarkably well for any direction in optics you then want to set off in.The explanations are mostly crystal-clear, crafted with great care.Lots of words and diagrams, not too much math, but enough math to facilitate useful calculations.

An excellent under-graduate text, to my mind, the best available today.

Good content, organized in a frustrating way
This is a fairly good textbook trapped in an inexcusably bad layout.I've worked my way through about half the textbook now and there are several sections which contain lots of helpful figures.However, there seems to have been almost no effort made to put the text on the same or facing page along with the figures, so you spend a lot of your time on these sections reading a paragraph, jumping ahead to find the figure, going back to read the next paragraph, again jumping ahead for that figure, and so on.It's bad enough when the figures are sparse, but when they are as dense as they are in some sections and as critical as they are to understanding the material, it's hard to stomach.As a result, I find that this book wastes a lot of my time.This is in the Third Edition, so you could hope things have changed, but I wouldn't bet a hundred bones on it.

Also, to reiterate what another reviewer said, there are subjects like Fourier Optics which are spread out throughout the book more than is necessary.This makes it a fairly poor reference, since you sometimes have to dig up separate chunks of material in a piecemeal fashion.

Still, for the level of the book, I am struggling to find something better.Born and Wolf is pretty good, but it's more of a graduate level text.Judging by the quality of the material available, textbook authorship must be harder than it seems.

the premier 1st text in optics for > 20 years
The back of the book says that it has been the premier optics text for a decade. I would disagree; suggesting that it has been so for well over 20 years. I used the first edition in 1981-2, when Hecht co-authored it with Zajac.

This fourth edition is significantly larger. Comparing the two editions is interesting. Certainly, many chapters are the same. After all, it is meant as a first book on optics for the physics major, and much of the theory and experiments have been unchanged for decades. It is also nice to see that Hecht has refrained from a gratuitous use of colour. Nowadays, many freshman texts in the sciences are chockablock with colour, both in the text and illustrations. But this is not a frosh text. A student who gets to the level of using this book is likely in her 3rd or 4th undergrad year, or perhaps even a grad student. Thus, she is probably already dedicated to majoring in physics, and does not need the frills of colour. Plus, to be sure, not using colour also saves the publisher a lot.

There is new material scattered throughout. Often reflecting experimental advances in recent years. Hence a quick description of terahertz rays [T-rays], and their use for nondestructive scanning of materials.

OK textbook, could have been better
I used this textbook for an introductory optics course.It was an average book.There weren't any examples in the core of the text, but fortunately the author did include worked solutions in the appendix for some of the end-of-chapter problems, which I used as examples to work from.Most of the questions that were answered were the easier ones, that anybody halfway intelligent should be able to figure out.

On the plus side, there were lots of equations and lots of description to help learn the material.Some sections were better than others.The sections on mirrors and lenses, for example, were wonderful; I never understood that stuff in high school, and Hecht made it all clear.The tables he had for the different types of lenses/mirrors and their properties were great.An example of a poor section was that on diffraction; I had no clue what he was talking about.

The book is a bit expensive, but overall it is alright; certainly better than some of the other books I used during my degree!

Exhaustive - Not for Learning Quickly
This book is good, but Hecht is verbose. This is heavy on descriptive, thematic models of what's actually happening in various phenomena. When I was taking Optics, I lost my grip on sanity, as physicists do from time to time. When I had trouble paying attention to this book, my professor told me to get Schaum's Outline of Optics, which is also written by Hecht!

This book is the Optics Bible, but if you just want the Gospels with selected Psalms, get Schaum's Outline of Optics instead. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (7)

A terrific little book to start with - and continue to use
This book is a little gem - and it costs next to nothing.

It's a beautifully concise and remarkably clear introduction to the main principles of modern optics - the ones that you are going to need over and over again as you continue into the subject.

This book gives you a great overview and set of basic foundations for every-day modern optics. I return to it often for little insights and reminders, even after 37 years in the business.

For the price Great
Great book to revise theory on Dual nature of light. Its like a nice handbook on optics. A full blown version would be very even nicer, with a math section to remind 'old' engineering like myself.

One word of caution, I think some graduate school background in Physics and Math is needed for engineers. I am an engineer (
I have a Phd, therefore it was easy for to me follow as I was reading), so I look at things slightly differently than Physicists.

Decent, economical book for optics
I bought this book while taking an optics course using Hecht's Optics 4th ed.I found Fowler's book to be fairly useful, especially since I got to see optics from two different perspectives.The one really good thing about this book is it's price, and makes it a good reference book.The downside is that since it's quite short, it doesn't cover everything, moves fairly fast, and has no examples.For the price I paid, however, I am quite satisfied.

Terrific Text
I was fortunate to have a physics professor use this text in his undergrad class.At the time, I considered optics as a mere curiousity.Well, I enjoyed the book and course enough to continue with the subject, eventually getting a PhD in Optical Physics.Never regretted it.I still rely on Fowles as a frequent reference, especially when deriving Fresnel eqns from Maxwell's eqns, solid state refresher, and intro to quantum theory.

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. ... 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

Customer Reviews (10)

Need modernising
Yes - all classical (linear) optical concepts are in here, and yes, it's the 'bible', but it's very dated in its content, style and references, generally, and not very practical to use.

I wish Hecht - or someone like him - would re-write this classic as a more advanced version of his book.

The Bible

Amazing book. It's the bible of geometric optics. Have everything you might need.

Needs a little previous knowledge, but which book doesn't?

A Classic in the Science of Optics
I read this book in the late sixties, when some of my fellow engineers built and tested an acoustic lens for a developmental company. Born & Wolf were well-acquainted with antenna aperture theory, and were among the first to write that the human eye could resolve 5X better than aperture theory would predict. This they credited to involuntary eye movements called flicks and saccades, which when combined with the brain's ability to do signal processing, was able to produce much better resolution than would have been predicted by the diameter of the retinal rods. In many ways the book gives testimony to God's wonderful gift of vision with color, depth, clarity, and order.

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. ... Read more

Book Description
Fourier analysis is a ubiquitous tool that has found application to diverse areas of physics and engineering. This book deals with its applications in optics, and in particular with its applications to diffraction, imaging, optical data processing, holography and optical communications. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Amazing, a textbook that's easy to understand!
I took a class in Fourier Optics and found this text to be indispensable.It explains everything very clearly and concisely, which is a minor miracle for a text at this level.I didn't have any particular background in optics, and was able to pick this up and understand every word.

I do agree with the earlier poster that more 'physical' or graphical representations of concepts would have been useful as I tend to be a visual learner.

Simply the best
Only the best will do - and this is it.

Mandatory reading for anyone involved in optics.Goodman's books are treasure troves.

A very nice book , but nothing is ever perfect...
Overall I like the book for it is clear, the mathematics is lucid and has all the essentials in a comprehensive way. I have found it quite useful for research. In addition, for the most parts it is quite accurate.

Some criticisms though:
Contains everything from a more mathematical point of view. By that i mean, problems are usually not very physically motivated and some of the conclusions drawn are not very physical. that is you are given at the end of a discussion only an integral. It would have been nice if there were more discussions on the physics of Fourier Optics, for example pictures of actual experimental results or clear diagrams that show for example how does the diffraction pattern for a given input looks like. So getting an intuitive grasp of the subject at a pictorial level, where you can 'see' the results is a bit challenging to get out of this book. also very expensive.

Goodman's Fourier Optics 3rd Edition:An Improved Classic.
For the last month, I have been using this book for self study to aid me in my work with lasers.Originally, I was working from the 1st edition (borrowed from a co-worker), but decided to buy my own copy.I wound up buying the 3rd edition, a significantly expanded version of the original.

Goodman's writing style is conversational and his treatment of the subject is thorough.I appreciate his inclusion of enough optics/E&M background within the text that I am not constantly having to go to my bookshelf to consult other references.Note, the 3rd edition has several helpful appendices not found in the 1st edition.

There are also many instructive problems given throughout the text to help students solidify their understanding of the material.

This is an excellent book for self study, and would certainly make a fine text for a senior undergrad course on the subject.I recommend it highly.

Charlie.

The best book on the topic
This is the best book on Fourier Optics that I'm aware of.There is sufficient detail that you can follow the math, but also has well written text explaining concepts.The problems are sometimes trivial and sometime challenging, but they are very much an integral part of the book and doing them is necessary to get a full understanding of the material.There is a 3rd edition of the book with an additonal chapter, which is available at a much lower price, but Amazon does not seem to be carrying it yet.Hopefully they will soon.(...) ... Read more

Book Description

This introduction to optics is intended as a supplement to a first course in undergraduate optics. This lively book conveys key modern terminology, and reinforces what it teaches with hundreds of fully worked out problems that run the gamut from candles to lasers.

Customer Reviews (6)

Optics
This schaum's outline is too old for this topic (same thing for Optics by Eugene Hecht ISBN: 0805385665).It is time for someone to write a new one even if physics has not changed!(I guess what you pay is what you get!)

Pro: good summary for something you know
con: not much detail like many old books from schaum's

Good book
This is a great book for somebody who wants to learn basics and get a feeling about optics. Helped me with the exam too.

Great supplement for exam prep
I used this book as a supplement for a course in Physical Optics, mainly to get practice in solving problems. I found the chapters on Polarization and Diffraction very useful. This book helped me get a better grade in this course. This book does not cover the topics like Jones and Coherence Matrix and Stokes vector. However these topics are covered well in the same author's Optics text. BTW, The Optics text is also very good. Solving problems in this book and then approaching the text gives a much better understanding of Optics. This book does not cover Poincare' sphere, which is also an important topic for which we cant find material anywhere except our Professor's lecture notes. Overall, this book is a must if you are taking any Optics course or the GRE physics text or if you just want to master the basics of Optics.

Good book
Its a good book to work problems in congunction with a regular text book. The practical side is limited for engineering purposes. Smithor Fischer is a better book.

I am a practicing engineer, so I look at stuff from what works in real world. It would have been a very good book when I was in grad school (many moons ago:).

Clear concise outline of optics
This Schaum's outline is better than the expensive textbook by the same author on the same subject in many ways, and in my opinion stands alone as a guide on optics. It gets to the meat of optics via solving problems that range from simple to difficult, which is particularly attractive to engineers learning or reviewing this subject. To me, the only chapters that seemed a bit confusing were the first two on wave motion and on electromagnetic waves and photons. For that material you may need to consult another source. From that point onward, however, the outline couldn't be any better. The outline even has a chapter that introduces Fourier optics. This outline would make an excellent review or supplement for someone taking a course in Photonics that uses Saleh's "Fundamentals of Photonics". That textbook has virtually no solved problems in it whatsoever, and the first third of the book follows the material covered in this outline nicely. ... Read more

Book Description
This unique new guide allows you to test your knowledge while increasing your understanding of optics. It is a handy, clinically relevant manual that presents the optics facts and concepts you need the most. The clear and concise question-and-answer format allows self-assessment while studying. Easy-to-understand explanations of complicated concepts make the topic manageable. Numerous practical tips will enhance your efficiency and effectiveness in the clinic. Many simple illustrations help make sense of difficult concepts.

Last Minute Optics: A Concise Review of Optics, Refraction and Contact Lenses is an invaluable study guide and a great reference that is directly applicable to your everyday clinical practice. Chapters include Basic Principles, The Model Eye, Acuity Testing, Refraction and Optical Dispensing, Astigmatism, Contact Lenses, Intraocular Lenses, Magnification and Telescopes, Low Vision, Mirrors, and Instruments.



David G. Hunter, MD, PhD is an assistant professor of Ophthalmology and Biomedical Engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He has presented lectures on optics worldwide. Constance West, MD is on staff at the Children's Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati. She is active in residence training and has lectured on optics and refraction in many cities across the United States.

Special Features

Unique question-and-answer format. Over 200 questions and answers on optics. Perfect for limited study time. Written in a light and approachable style to make optics accessible and understandable. Practical, clinically relevant tips enhance your practice. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Great review for Ophthalmologists
Throw away the Academy of Ophthalmology's optics book.This concise text is all you need.If you read it carefully, do the problems and really learn what it teaches, you will score very well on the OKAPs and board exams.

Aimed at the exam taker
As a reference book, this little handbook falls short.

As alearning tool it is also lacking, with little detail or helpfuldiagrams.

However, as a study tool, this review should serve the student well if he/she had a real reference from which to learn.That is, in fact, what it markets itself to be -- a last minute study review -- so no false advertising here.

Kirk Carver, Patient Advocate,... ... Read more

Book Description
Most previous texts on quantum optics have been written primarily for the graduate student market at PhD level and above. Quantum optics: an introduction aims to introduce a wide range of topics at a lower level suitable for advanced undergraduate and Masters level students in physics. The text is divided into four main parts, covering modern topics in both pure and applied quantum optics: I. Introduction and background material. II. Photons. III. Atom-photon interactions. IV. Quantum information processing. The emphasis of the subject development is on intuitive physical understanding rather than mathematical arguments, although many derivations are included where appropriate. The text includes numerous illustrations, with a particular emphasis on the experimental observations of quantum optical phenomena. Each chapter includes worked examples, together with 10-15 exercises with solutions. Six appendices are included to supplement the main subject material. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Good book
This is our textbook and is easy to understand. It also has answers for the exercise questions. That helps a lot.

A proper introducton
At last we have a text that provides a comprehensive introduction to quantum optics for the beginner - both theory and experiment - and one which takes you through many of the most recent concepts and potential applications in computation, cryptography and teleportation etc.

A feature of this text is the clear explanations and carefully explained jargon - it's NOT just mostly a collection of math like some other supposedly introductory texts.

If you want to find out what quantum optics is all about - this is a great book to start with.

Excellent Introduction to Quantum Optics
I developed an interest in quantum optics in my last year of undergraduate school but I became discouraged with it since every book that I picked up on the subject was esoteric and too involved for an introduction.It seemed as if NONE of the quantum optics textbooks available were appropriate as an introduction.But then I found this book.

Although not as mathematically intensive as I was hoping for it to be, it explains the physics very well.And although it doesn't compensate for many years of post-graduate study, I was able to better understand research papers in quantum optics due to this book.

The book follows a rather traditional approach to developing quantum optics...first starting off with a discussion of important results in electromagnetism, classical optics, and quantum mechanics...then progressing to the theory of photons (discussing photon statistics, coherent states, and second quantization (with regard to photon number states)).Furthermore, it discusses the essential "backbone" of quantum optics (light-matter interactions) and then applications of quantum optics (quantum computing, quantum entanglement, etc.).

I broke the rules and skipped ahead to the applications section and I must say that everything seems to make sense because of Fox's ability to convey difficult ideas in a simple, easy-to-understand manner.

For anybody just starting to take an interest in quantum optics (like I was at one point), I would strongly suggest this book.It's not as mathematically sophisticated as Loudon's "The Quantum Theory of Light" (which is another must-have for quantum optics), but it's an excellent introduction. ... Read more

Book Description
For years, fiber optics was the future. Now, it's the present, and the time has come to act if you want to make a career in this fast-growing field. The Fiber Optics Installer and Technician Guide is a comprehensive resource designed to prepare you for the two leading fiber optics certifications, Fiber Optics Installer (FOI) and Fiber Optics Technician (FOT). This book's practical, objective-focused coverage includes:

• The history of fiber optics
• Principles of fiber optic transmission
• Optical fiber characteristics, construction, and theory
• Safety considerations
• Cables, connectors, and splicing
• Fiber optic light sources and transmitters
• Fiber optic detectors and receivers
• Passive components and multiplexers
• Fiber optic links
• Testing equipment
• Techniques for testing links and cables
• Troubleshooting and restoration techniques

Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

lite reading for a geek
I ordered this on a whim for my army husband while he was deployed to Iraq and his company was installing fiber optic cable. He's a man of few words and said, "It was good. How much is a person going to bond with a text book?"

Useful Information for Others Also
As the publisher of the only weblog devoted solely to fiber to the home (...), from time to time I receive books to review. So here it is.
As fiber to the home gathers momentum, the need for skilled workers installing and troubleshooting fiber access networks is bound to increase. For the next 15-20 years this will be a well paying job with little fear of outsourcing. The technical publishing and training industries are starting to respond to the challenge with training materials, books, and courses.
Sybex has recently released a textbook titled "Fiber Optics, Installer and Technician Guide" written by Bill Woodward and Emile B. Husson. This book is designed as a study guide to help students pass the Fiber Optic Installer (FOI) and Fiber Optic Technician (FOT) certifications. To this end, the book has obviously succeeded, with questions at the end of each chapter and an accompanying CD-ROM with practice questions, exams, and a .pdf version of the book. Topics covered in the book include history of fiber optics, various aspects of fiber optic technology, a chapter on safety, sections on cabling, splicing and connectors, system design considerations, and testing and troubleshooting.
If one is not preparing for the exam, there is some information in the book that I have not seen in other text books. This includes a safety chapter detailing the hazards of various chemicals used in preparing fiber optic connections, some very thorough information on cabling used in access installations and the installation methods. Finally sprinkled throughout the book are sidebar sections called "Real World Scenario" with installation examples that the authors collected from their students "in the trenches". ... Read more

Book Description
This newly updated edition reflects recent changes in fiber optic technology, marketing, and applications, including wider usage of Fiber To The Home (FTTH) applications and LANs (Local Area Networks).A practical guide for designers, installers, and troubleshooters of fiber optic cable plants and networks, this book provides a comprehensive overview of all aspects of fiber optics as used in communications systems, including telephone, CATV, and computers.Beginning with a brief history of the development of fiber optics, the third edition progresses from the basics of the technology and its components, to installation and testing. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Into Fiber Optics?
Purchased this book for my son who is continuing his education in Fiber Optics. This book is a wonderful companion as an aid in fiber certification.Well written with end of chapter quizzes.

GOOD Installers book
Its a very good book, which starts reviewing from basics to intense data related to the topic of Fiber Optics.
Basics its very important , its like the foundation of knowledge to me, like breakfast is the most important food of the whole day..
I recommend this book.

The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual
Hi, I'm Jim Hayes, editor/author of The Fiber Optic Technicians Manual, with the third edition just released.
I'd like to clear up the confusion created by Mr. Cooke. Delmar Learning, the publisher of the book, also offers two companion books, an Instructor's Guide that provides guidance to instructors using the book in their classes and a laboratory manual for guiding students throughhands-on activities that develop skills in fiber optic installation.
The Instructor's Guide has suggestions on how to structure classes using the book as well as answers to all the chapter exercises. The Lab Manual has step-by-step instructions on setting up and teaching labs in fiber optics. The instructor teaching a class with this book should have both manuals in addtion to the textbook to teach a class. A reader interested in developing skills in fiber optic installation only needs the Lab Manual.
We also offer complete instructor teaching packages based on the books and self-study programs through VDV Academy ([...])
If you want to learn about fiber optics and how to design and install networks using fiber optics (or teach it), this is a booked aimed directly at you.

Instructors Guide to Fiber Optics Technicians Manual
This is the second edition by Jim Hayes an instructor with Fiber U of "Instructors Guide to Fiber Optics Technicians Manual" WARNING You need the "other" manual issued in Feb 2000, not this one issued in March 2002 for the full 17 chapter overview! ... Read more

Book Description
This elementary introduction to the subject of quantum optics, the study of the quantum mechanical nature of light and its interaction with matter, is almost entirely concerned with the quantized electromagnetic field. The text is designed for upper-level undergraduates taking courses in quantum optics who have already taken a course in quantum mechanics, and for first- and second- year graduate students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Useful, but could be much better with substantial revision
I am a mathematician who is very familiar with electrodynamics and quantum mechanics.
I read this book to teach myself quantum optics.
Since I read it as a self-study text,
I will review it from that perspective.
Some of the weaknesses noted might be less important for a classroom text.

The Gerry/Knight text is billed as suitable for
"senior undergraduates and beginning postgraduates", but
I fear that undergraduates who attempt it as a self-study text
are likely to end up frustrated.
I can't recall ever encountering an undergraduate with a background in mathematics and quantum mechanics
sufficient to read this book in a reasonable time without the guidance of an instructor.
If used for self-study, I think that minimal prerequisites
would be a graduate level understanding of abstract linear algebra and quantum mechanics.
Some familiarity with Fock space and the theory of operators on infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces would be desirable.

Because the book is intended for beginners,
the authors take pains to explain many things which a beginner might not know.
Most of the explanations were careful and helpful, but I was dissatisfied with some.
I read the book cover to cover and was able to follow most of it,
but some of it (e.g, much of the chapter on decoherence)
is still a mystery to me.

Chapter 9 describes recent experiments in quantum optics which
demonstrate amazing properties of light unimaginable from a classical perspective.
The presentations of the physical setups give just the right amount of detail for clear understanding.
The diagrams are good.
However, I felt that the mathematical analyses would be easier
for those with good backgrounds if done on a higher level,
and some of the physical discussions seemed obscure.

Given the authors' intended audience,
it may be unreasonable to quarrel with their choice of mathematical level.
However, it is truly unfortunate that some of
their calculational details seem actually wrong.
For example, in Section 9.3's discussion of a ``quantum eraser'',
several terms appear to be omitted from equation (9.21),
which invalidates some of the subsequent discussion.
Moreover, the discussion is obscure and seems of questionable validity even were the text's (9.21) correct.
More details can be found on my website.

I noticed only a few errors which would affect the physics,
but there are too many mathematical errors and
an unusually large number of typos.
Most of the typos are relatively insignificant,
but nevertheless distracting.
Readers should be prepared to check everything.

My copy is by now riddled with underlined statements with marginal notes
like "Why?", or "What does this mean?"
As I progressed through the book and my understanding deepened,
manyof these "Why's" were erased, but quite a few remain.

The reader who wants to learn quantum optics and has
the necessary mathematical background may wish that
parts of the book were more carefully written,
but he will not be fundamentally disappointed.
This is a good book from which I learned a lot.
It seems much clearer than Scully and Zubairy's
Quantum Optics, which I read previously.

My brand new paperback copy is falling apart after only a few weeks of careful use at home.
A book this good deserves a more durable binding. ... Read more

Book Description

Customer Reviews (4)

Enough

Had just about the information a needed. It could have a little bit more examples for a more clear approach. It was pretty useful.

Great if you are more interested in the math than the physics of optics
I really liked this book, but then my needs are probably different from the other two reviewers. I was looking for a book that concentrated on the mathematics of optics. Specifically I needed something that would show, given point A and a particular optical system, where would the translated version point B occur, and how could I express this in simple mathematical terms. My need was having a good book on the mathematics of optics without the need to wade through the details of the EM theory of Hecht, which if you are into pure optics, is an essential book. However, I am a computer scientist writing code to simulate optical effects rather than a physicist.

If you are interested in the mathematics of light, I can't think of a better reference. It even begins with a review of matrix algebra in case you are a bit rusty on the subject. It then applies matrix methods to paraxial rays through a cascadeof lenses using the Jones transfer matrix approach.The book then covers optical resonators for lasers with Gaussian beams, followed by a chapter on polarization effects using the Muller matrix approach. If you don't already know the background material, chapter four on the polarization of light and the Stokes equations can be rough going. The Jones and Muller matrix calculations are derived in the appendix.The math in this book is well presented, but there is little indication of where you are going with this material in the grand scheme of things.

Pretty boring and disorganized
If you are already involved in optical computations, but have forgotten some fundamental tricks, this book is for you.As a trainer or reference it is difficult and obtuse.It is a string of mathematical methods linked together by math relationships rather than application to optic relationships.It was not of much help.

However, it is very inexpensive in the paperback form.You get what you pay for I guess.

A Bit Antique, But An Excellent Orientation
This book is very inexpensive (thanks again, Dover), and talks about all sorts of matrix methods in optics: ABCD matrices for paraxial ray tracing, Jones matrices, coherency matrices, and Stokes parameters for polarization,among other things.

It's not a terribly deep book, but it is readable,lucid, and complete.It got me up to speed rapidly on an area I was fuzzyin, so for [...] it's a great bargain. ... Read more

Book Description

Comprehensive and fully updated, this reader-friendly introduction to optics provides clear, concise derivations and explanations of optical phenomena, avoiding extraneous material. Updates material related to laser systems. Updated chapters on Optical Interferometery, Fiber Optics, and Holography. Introduces a broad range of new applications throughout, including liquid crystal displays, CCD's, CD and DVD Technology. Features a more intensive exploration of communication systems than in previous editions. Provides approximately 50 new problems and 50 new or revised figures. A general reference for optical industry practitioners.

Customer Reviews (7)

Book was useful then, and is still useful now...
I'd have to admit as an actual optics major, this book served my purposes very well. There really is no way way you can go through introductory optics in 1 semester, which is how all the physics departments do it - it doesn't do the subject justice.

My favorite chapters from the book are as follows:

-Theory Multilayer Thin Film
-Matrix Treatment of Polarization
-Production of Polarized Light
-The 3chapters dedicated to diffraction
-Fresnel Equations

These are all chapters that don't require Maxwell's Equations at all, even if you knew them.The optical properties of material chapters deals with Maxwell's Equations more or less for the entire chapter.

The laser and subsequent chapters also give you a VERY BASIC flavor of expect in more specialized books.

If I had to recommend a book for actually learning the material and that has worked out problems, this would be the one. Born and Wolf is great, but only as a reference, and still there are flaws in that book as well. Jenkins and White or Schaum's Outline for Optics might be useful supplements, as I used them from time to time. Hecht is not a good book to learn out of, but a good way to learn what optics is all about.

Please buy a different book
I took a course in Optics from the author and he used his own book.It was awful.I had to acquire several other optics books to actually learn the material.If you're looking for a good optics book, look elsewhere.Hecht and Zach or Klien is a much better option.

Good book but may be not as an intro for the novice
I have given recitations for a course when I was a TA. For my own reference it was very good concerning many matters, when one really needs the problems like reducing aberrations or like multilayer thin film optics or may be even non linear optics, this book is a very honest written book. But I do not know if it is a good idea to talk about aberrations for the people who do not have much idea about Gausssian geometrical optics for instance. Its level is not a graduate level, but, you know, for young people, they do not want to hear about the problems that they may face in life, untill they really do. I still have this book on my shelf, even after shifting to different topics. To me it is a compact and a real life book. Does not talk about myths, tells you the truth of life in optics. But of course Hecht s book is better may be as an introduction, gives a better overall map of the field. If you will have several optics book in your life this is one of them. But only if you work out the problems and think about the reason why they were asked. Every problem in this book is about a real life case in the optoelectronics laboratory and not about a fantasy.

Basic information presented in a lucid form...
The authors present optics at an intermediate level - not as detailed or complete as Born and Wolf, but it is a mathematical treatment and just slightly on a lower level than Klein and Furtak or Hecht. It is not just a survey. Certain parts of it are extremely good - for example, the chapter on Theory of Multilayer Films presents more useful data on antireflection coatings in a more concise, readable, well-illustrated format than any of the above books. It also presents common applications such as the Snellen eye chart used to measure visual acuity at your opthamologist in an "Optics of the Eye" chapter. Overall, a pretty decent first level optics book.

Serves itýs purposes, but not meant for physics students
We used this book for a one-semester undergraduate optics course. Readers should be aware of the fact that this textbook focuses more on the applications, not so much with theory. You only need the first-year introductory physics to keep up with the most stuff in the book, and the problem sets are very manageable with the answers to most problems provided at the end of the book. As a physics student, this made the entire course awfully boring and meaningless. I think many colleges teach optics after undergrad E&M, and if you are in one of those colleges, I strongly recommend NOT using this book as the textbook. Ideally, you would want take Maxwell equations as a starting point and going into diffraction theory, boundary value problems, etc., especially if you have already finished sophomore/junior level E&M. This book treats these only toward the end of the book. Who wants to bother with a bunch of geometrical optics, only to solve different kinds of problems without being exposed to new principles? I think an optics course in physics should be taught in a fashion that the phenomena in relation to Maxwell equations are illuminated. On a good side, I do think the book does a pretty good job of teaching the materials that it covers. ... Read more

Book Description
Nano-optics is the study of optical phenomena and techniques on the nanometer scale, that is, near or beyond the diffraction limit of light. It is an emerging field of study, motivated by the rapid advance of nanoscience and nanotechnology which require adequate tools and strategies for fabrication, manipulation and characterization at this scale. In Principles of Nano-Optics the authors provide a comprehensive overview of the theoretical and experimental concepts necessary to understand and work in nano-optics. With a very broad perspective, they cover optical phenomena relevant to the nanoscale across diverse areas ranging from quantum optics to biophysics, introducing and extensively describing all of the significant methods. This is the first textbook specifically on nano-optics. Written for graduate students who want to enter the field, it includes problem sets to reinforce and extend the discussion. It is also a valuable reference for researchers and course teachers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

excellent book for graduate students !!!
Professor Lukas Novotny, a well known Rochester scientist in near field optics, provides a comprehensive overview of the field.The book starts from fundamentals in classical optics (Born and Wolf), electrodynamics (J. D. Jackson), and extends to the frontiers of near field optics.It is comprehensive and in detail.Great for physics, optical engineering students who are interested in this field! ... Read more

Book Description
The Wiley Classics Library consists of selected books that have become recognized classics in their respective fields. With these new unabridged and inexpensive editions, Wiley hopes to extend the life of these important works by making them available to future generations of mathematicians and scientists.
Currently available in the Series:

T. W. Anderson
The Statistical Analysis of Time Series
T. S. Arthanari & Yadolah Dodge
Mathematical Programming in Statistics
Emil Artin
Geometric Algebra
Norman T. J. Bailey
The Elements of Stochastic Processes
with Applications to the Natural Sciences
Robert G. Bartle
The Elements of Integration and
Lebesgue Measure
George E. P. Box & Norman R. Draper
Evolutionary Operation: A Statistical Method for Process Improvement
George E. P. Box & George C. Tiao
Bayesian Inference in Statistical Analysis
R. W. Carter
Finite Groups of Lie Type: Conjugacy Classes
and Complex Characters
R. W. Carter
Simple Groups of Lie Type
William G. Cochran & Gertrude M. Cox
Experimental Designs, Second Edition
Richard Courant
Differential and Integral Calculus, Volume I
RIchard Courant
Differential and Integral Calculus, Volume II
Richard Courant & D. Hilbert
Methods of Mathematical Physics, Volume I
Richard Courant & D. Hilbert
Methods of Mathematical Physics, Volume II

D. R. Cox
Planning of Experiments
Harold S. M. Coxeter
Introduction to Geometry, Second Edition
Charles W. Curtis & Irving Reiner
Representation Theory of Finite Groups and
Associative Algebras
Charles W. Curtis & Irving Reiner
Methods of Representation Theory
with Applications to Finite Groups
and Orders, Volume I
Charles W. Curtis & Irving Reiner
Methods of Representation Theory
with Applications to Finite Groups
and Orders, Volume II
Cuthbert Daniel
Fitting Equations to Data: Computer Analysis of
Multifactor Data, Second Edition
Bruno de Finetti
Theory of Probability, Volume I
Bruno de Finetti
Theory of Probability, Volume 2
W. Edwards Deming
Sample Design in Business Research ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

A good textbook in statistical optics
Since I'm an optics graduate student beginning my research on image through atmosphere turbulance, I'm eager to find a book of statistic optics which can be both a classical one and easy of self-studying, in fact, Idon't want to waste a lot of time jumping from one book to another tryingto get the right one for me. One friend of mine introduced this book to me,also because it is written by goodman, whose book "Introduction toFourier Optics" is one of the best books I've ever read, I did have atry on this book, "Statistical Optics". It's really well writtenand good organized, I read all through the book, especially on the chapterfocus on the theory of partial coherence, imaging with partially coherentlight, and atmospheric degradations of images. I obtained not only somebasic concepts from it, even got some inspiration for the research work I'mdoing. Thank you, Prof. Goodman. Thank you for offering another classicaloptics textbook to the optics student! ... Read more

Book Description

This book is thorough, up to date, and provides comprehensive and intuitive introduction to fiber optics. With mathematics limited to basic algebra, the book takes a practical approach to understanding fiber optics. It thoroughly describes important concepts for the novice, building up an understanding of optical fibers, their properties, light sources and detectors, and fiber-optic components and their application in fiber-optic systems. It covers the basics of fiber-optic measurement and troubleshooting. Ideal for technicians, entry-level engineers, and other nonspecialists.

Customer Reviews (12)

Cisco Optical Instructor
GREAT BOOK!Used a lot of the principles in my lectures.

A good book for starters
A very good starting point. Allows you space to build on what you read.

A good book for learning the Fiber Optics.
The fourth edition of this book is a product of many years of practical experience and trials of previous editions. I always wondered if more information than just reader's level as beginner, intermediate and advanced should be printed on the technical books. What you are looking for in a book and level of satisfaction depends on your involvement in that area of expertise. Please stay with me while I try my thinking on this book. If you are already an expert working in Optical Engineering field this book is not a research paper. Probably you need Warren J. Smith's book Modern Optical Engineering. If you are a student learning about Fiber Optics this book has enough information and practice questions to be qualified as a good text book, but may not be enough for your Graduate School research thesis. If you are like me, a practicing Network Engineer or technician, this book provides everything you need to know and more than enough information. It is written in an easy to understand style, and chapters are in a perfect sequence and length. That's why I am rating it 5 Stars.

Is C.H.L really Jeff Hecht?
C.H.L.'s attempt to justify Hecht's misinformation is a bit weak

1.The G.711 recommendation is probably 30+ years old and the US telephone companies have adhered to it since ratification.In fact, G.711 simply confirmed what the US and European companies were already doing so the US telephone companies were using 64Kbps for voice even before G.711.

2.Packet switching has nothing (or very little) to do with voice.Voice is carried via circuit switched channels.

3.When voice is carried via a digital channel in the US (at 64Kbps, I might add), one form of signaling "steals" the low order bit of an 8 bit voice sample of each sixth sample of the 24 channels on a DS-1 (AKA T-1) circuit.Because of this, a data channel carried over one of these 64Kbps channels is only able to provide 56Kbps.Maybe this is where Hecht went wrong.

But don't buy or not buy Hecht's book based on this one error (in the big scheme of things it's fairly small).The real problem with the book is that it just doesn't do a jood job of explaining optical communications.A better defense of Hecht's book might be that Hecht was attempting to write about all of the uses of optical fiber and not just communications.

Possible explaination for the previous review(Dec. 26, 2000)
I personally don't have a rating to this book, however the system is asking me to rate this book with stars or I couldn't post, so I put a 4-star to cope with the current general rating.

As for the possible mistake mentioned in the previous review (December 26, 2000), I think I might have an explaination for the misunderstanding.

Jeff Hecht says that voice is coded in the telephone network with 7 bit samples to give a 56 kbps data stream. The fact is that this is what happens in the US because when the Bell system first installed those packet switching nodes for the packet switched networks around the US. They adopted 56 Kbps clear channels for interconnections, prior to the standard protocol being set up by the international standards bodies.

When the international standard called SS7 was finally completed, AT&T adopted it; however, the legacy of 56 Kbps clear channels remains in the US.

So this is what happened in the US, while the rest of the world is using 64 Kbps clear channels.

FYI. ... Read more

Book Description
Introduction to Fiber Optics is well established as an introductory text for engineers, managers and students. It meets the needs of systems designers, installation engineers, electronic engineers and anyone else looking to gain a working knowledge of fiber optics with a minimum of maths. Review questions are included in the text to enable the reader to check their understanding as they work through the book.

The new edition of this successful book is now fully up to date with the new standards, latest technological developments and includes a new chapter on specifying optical components.

Whether you are looking for a complete self-study course in fiber optics, a concise reference text to dip into, or a readable introduction to this fast moving technology, this book has the solution.

* A practical, no-nonsense guide to fiber optics
* Up-to-date coverage that minimises mathematics
* New material on specifying optical components ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Good starter book
I'm an engineer becoming familiar with fiberoptics.This book is very oriented towards the non-engineer.Much space is devoted to explanation of terms dB, and basic laws of physics.

The issue of multimode vs single mode is handled too cavalierly. The reader is left faced with an undesirable trait of fibers without sufficient explanation of the eigen values or transmission theory.This is good starter book only.

Good, not Great, Guide to Fiber Optics
I recently purchased this book, "Fiber Optic Reference Guide" by Goff and "Understanding Fiber Optics" by Hecht.I knew nothing about fiber optics and had to get up to speed in a very tight time frame.This was my second favorite of the three, as it did a very good job of providing a basic explanation of the technology behind and implementation of fiber optics.This book was not bad in any way, there were merely some areas where Goff's book (which was the most useful of the three) were more up to date and the illustrations were more clear.Also, it did seem as if a few items within the book were a little dated.

Good for beginners in fiber optics
This is an excellent book for someone just starting off in the fiber optics industry.Everything is explained in a completely understandable way, with lots of examples and quizes to to test your knowledge at the end of each chapter.I would especially recommend this for sales and marketing types who don't need to know as much as engineers, but need to be able to understand the basics.

Excellent Introduction
I teach telecommunications and was looking for reference material.What I found was a book that will help me better explain complex concepts in terms anyone can understand.I already understood refraction, but Mr. Crisp even gave me new insight in that area.The book is dated, so don't expect to learn about PMD or DWDM, but as a basic tutorial to understanding the basic science behind fiber optics, you won't find clearer text.I should warn, that the math is pretty steep, but he still makes you understand the concept, if not the equations.

A very good book
A very good book to start your education on Fiber Optics. It gives a very basic overview of Fiber Optics that should form an excellent background for further reading. ... Read more

Book Description
Since the 3rd edition appeared, a fast evolution of the field has occurred. The fourth edition of this classic work provides an up-to-date account of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside 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 solitons. Many new figures have been added to help illustrate the concepts discussed in the book.

New to this edition are chapters on highly nonlinear fibers and and the novel nonlinear effects that have been observed in these fibers since 2000. Such a chapter should be of interest to people in the field of new wavelengths generation, which has potential application in medical diagnosis and treatments, spectroscopy, new wavelength lasers and light sources, etc.

* Continues to be industry bestseller providing unique source of comprehensive coverage on the subject of nonlinear fiber optics
* Fourth Edition is a completely up-to-date treatment of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside optical fibers
* Includes 2 NEW CHAPTERS on the properties of highly nonlinear fibers and their novel nonlinear effects ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

One of the best book I've ever red on nonlinear optics.
I'm absolutly sure that everyone can find something useful in this book, no matter who you are - a novice in this subject or well experienced researcher in optics.

This book is also useful as a reference book on nonlinear effects. I very often find this book in hand.

A quantitative text on nonlinear fiber optics
This is a serious book written at a graduate-student oradvanced-under-graduate level for the practicing professional employed indesigning optical telecommunications systems and components. I don't thinkthe book was written with students particularly in mind, since (forexample) there are no examples or problems in the book as typically foundin university course workIn his introduction, Agrawal says "[t]hebook is aimed for researchers already engaged in or wishing to enter thefiled of nonlinear fiber optics." As the title suggests, the book'semphasis is on nonlinear effects in optical fibers, as opposed to nonlineareffects in bulk materials.

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

Chapter two developsthe mathematics of wave propagation in optical fibers, including themathematics of mode propagation and basic propagation equations derivedfrom Maxwell's equations.This chapter actually develops severaldifferent differential equations; each based on various assumptionsapplicable to different pulse widths.These differential equations thenform the basis for later investigations into various non-linear effectsdiscussed in the book.Chapter two is thus a foundational chapter andshould be read and understood completely before moving on.There is abrief discussion at the end of the chapter that describes numericalmethods.

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

Chapter four introduces self-phase modulation and self steepening.

Chapter five describes optical solitons (including fundamental andhigher order solitions), soliton lasers, and soliton-based communicationssystems.

Chapter 6 describes some techniques for optical pulsecompression using gratings and chirped optical pulses.It also describessoliton-effect compressors.

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

The bookis quantitative, making (as you'd expect in a graduate text) liberal use ofmathematics.The level of mathematics, however, should be well within thegrasp of senior college students majoring in physics, engineering, ormathematics. The subject, however, is non-trivial, and you should expectthis book to present a real intellectual challenge in reading andunderstanding 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 plotsome of the equations on my computer.

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

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

I would not make this a first study ofnonlinear optics (although it was for me).Rather, I'd look for texts thatdiscuss nonlinear effects qualitatively, and I'd try to expose myself toexperiments that illustrate these nonlinear effects to gain a morequalitative understanding before diving into Agrawal's mathematicalderivations.With a more qualitative basis first acquired, however,Agrawal's book is an invaluable tool for understanding the most obscurenonlinear 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 quickreview of linear fibre characteristics (dispersion, loss, fabrication) anddevotes a chapter each to a systematic study of how dispersion withoutnonlinearity and nonlinearity without dispersion affect pulse propagation.Higher order nonlinearity and dispersion are also covered.

From thisintroduction, the problem of having both nonlinearity and dispersionpresent is introduced, leading to solitons. This treatment does not godeeply into the algebraic solution of the NLS equation, but gives a goodbackground of the properties of solitons.

Several other topics arecovered which span a broad array of important nonlinear phenomenon inoptical fibres under active research. This seems to be the book to buy ifyou need to know about solitons and other nonlinear effects, and iscontinually referenced. ... Read more

Book Description
The abstract art movement Op art came to internationalattention in the mid-1960s, an era of global social and technologicalchange. The movement, which placed emphasis on viewer perception byexploring optical effects in painting, sculpture and light installation,quickly gained in popularity but met with considerable criticism. Thisimportant book, published to accompany the first major Op art exhibition byan American museum in twenty-five years, examines the development of themovement, its cultural context and its widespread impact on advertising,fashion and film-making. Featuring visually stunning works by such keyfigures as Josef Albers, Bridget Riley and Victor Vasarely, Optic Nerveoffers a timely reappraisal of this highly influential movement.

Thefirst comprehensive survey of Op art to be published for more than thirtyyears
Features over 200 spectacular images, including the mostsignificant works of this revolutionary artistic movement
Will appeal toanyone interested in modern painting and sculpture ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

More than just a catalog of some 250 works by key Op Artists in the field
Joe Houston's OPTIC NERVE: PERCEPTUAL ART OF THE 1960S covers 'Op Art' or the fine art of perceptual abstraction, and is published to accompany the first major exhibition of Op Art in over twenty years. More than just a catalog of some 250 works by key Op Artists in the field, though - packing in color images on nearly every page - OPTIC NERVE also provides a critical and biographical foundation for reference, making it a pick art libraries will want. ... Read more

Book Descrip