High brightness metal vapor lasers have become the most bright and powerful in the visible spectral range among all existing laser types, resulting in numerous applications ranging from purely fundamental research to practical application in large-scale commercial problems such as isotope selection. This book presents a full series of fundamental problems on the development of physical fundamentals and mathematical models for practical realization of a high-power laser radiation on self-contained transitions in metal atoms. It is the first fundamental review on physics and the technique of high-brightness metal vapor lasers.

Due to the development of microscale fabrication methods, microlenses are being used more and more in many unique applications, such as artificial implementations of compound eyes, optical communications, and labs-on-chips. Liquid microlenses, in particular, represent an important and growing research area yet there are no books devoted to this topic that summarize the research to date. Rectifying this deficiency, Microlenses: Properties, Fabrication and Liquid Lenses examines the recent progress in the emerging field of liquid-based microlenses. After describing how certain problems in optics can be solved by liquid microlenses, the book introduces the physics and fabrication methods involved in microlenses. It also details the facility and equipment requirements for general fabrication methods. The authors then present examples of various microlenses with non-tunable and tunable focal lengths based on different mechanisms, including: Non-tunable microlenses: Ge/SiO2 core/shell nanolenses, glass lenses made by isotropic etching, self-assembled lenses and lens arrays, lenses fabricated by direct photo-induced polymerization, lenses formed by thermally reflowing photoresist, lenses formed from inkjet printing, arrays fabricated through molding processes, and injection-molded plastic lenses Electrically tuned microlenses: liquid crystal-based lenses and liquid lenses driven by electrostatic forces, dielectrophoretic forces, electrowetting, and electrochemical reactions Mechanically tunable microlenses: thin-membrane lenses with varying apertures, pressures, and surface shapes; swellable hydrogel lenses; liquid-liquid interface lenses actuated by environmentally stimuli-responsive hydrogels; and oscillating lens arrays driven by sound waves Horizontal microlenses: two-dimensional polymer lenses, tunable and movable liquid droplets as lenses, hydrodynamically tuned cylindrical lenses, liquid core and liquid cladding lenses, air-liquid interface lenses, and tunable liquid gradient refractive index lenses The book concludes by summarizing the importance of microlenses, shedding light on future microlens work, and exploring related challenges, such as the packaging of systems, effects of gravity, evaporation of liquids, aberrations, and integration with other optical components.

Due to their speed, data density, and versatility, optical metrology tools play important roles in today's high-speed industrial manufacturing applications. Handbook of Optical Dimensional Metrology provides useful background information and practical examples to help readers understand and effectively use state-of-the-art optical metrology methods. The book first builds a foundation for evaluating optical measurement methods. It explores the many terms of optical metrology and compares it to other forms of metrology, such as mechanical gaging, highlighting the limitations and errors associated with each mode of measurement at a general level. This comparison is particularly helpful to current industry users who operate the most widely applied mechanical tools. The book then focuses on each application area of measurement, working down from large area to medium-sized to submicron measurements. It describes the measurement of large objects on the scale of buildings, the measurement of durable manufactured goods such as aircraft engines and appliances, and the measurement of fine features on the micron and nanometer scales. In each area, the book covers fast, coarse measures as well as the finest measurements possible. Best practices and practical examples for each technology aid readers in effectively using the methods. Requiring no prior expertise in optical dimensional metrology, this handbook helps engineers and quality specialists understand the capabilities and limitations of optical metrology methods. It also shows them how to successfully apply optical metrology to a vast array of current engineering and scientific problems.

"...provides the full, exciting story of optical modulators. ... a comprehensive review, from the fundamental science to the material and processing technology to the optimized device design to the multitude of applications for which broadband optical modulators bring great value. ... Especially valuable in my view is that the authors are internationally known researchers, developers, and systems people who are experts in their field, writing now, with the perspective that time offers, about their groundbreaking work. " -Dr. Rodney C. Alferness, Senior Vice President of Optical Networking Research at Lucent Technologies' Bell Labs Considered the most comprehensive book yet published on this critical subject, Broadband Optical Modulators: Science, Technology, and Applications offers an incredibly wide-ranging yet in-depth overview of the state of the art in the design and use of optical modulators. A compilation of expert insights, this book covers fundamental and practical aspects, from materials to systems, addressing historical and more recent developments. Coverage includes: Optical and electro-optic properties of traditional single crystalline lithium niobate, silicon, and III-V compound semiconductors, as well as emerging electro-optic polymers and organic nonlinear optic crystals Discussion of factors important to modulator design, fabrication, and performance Fundamental topics, such as electro-optic effect in nonlinear optic crystals and semiconductors Leaders in the field created this invaluable reference for scientific researchers involved in high-speed device research and development, especially in the areas of optical transmitters and optical modulators for fiber-optics communication systems. Helping readers master optical modulation techniques, this book will be invaluable to engineers (system/subsystem designers, product developers, and technical and project managers) and other professionals in the telecommunications and defense industries. It offers the audience-which includes graduate students-an in-depth understanding of the new modulator architectures and technologies now available, as well as the strengths, weaknesses, advantages, and trade-offs associated with each.

While several available texts discuss molded plastic optics, none provide information on all classes of molded optics. Filling this gap, Molded Optics: Design and Manufacture presents detailed descriptions of molded plastic, glass, and infrared optics. Since an understanding of the manufacturing process is necessary to develop cost-effective, producible designs, the book extensively covers various manufacturing methods, design guidelines, trade-offs, best practices, and testing of critical parameters. It also discusses topics that often arise when designing systems with molded optics, such as mitigating stray light and mating systems by eye. The first three chapters of the book focus on subjects important to the design of systems using molded optics: optical design, visual optics, and stray light. Following these background chapters, the text provides in-depth information on the design and manufacture of molded plastic optics, molded glass optics, and molded infrared optics. The final chapter on testing emphasizes the special characteristics of molded optics. Experts in their particular areas, the authors draw on their considerable knowledge and real-world experiences to give a thorough account of the design and manufacture of molded plastic, glass, and infrared optics. The book will help readers improve their ability to develop systems that employ molded optics.

Ever since the first experimental demonstration was reported in 2000, the interest in metamaterials and left-handed media that exhibit a negative refractive index has increased exponentially. Surveying this explosive growth, Physics and Applications of Negative Refractive Index Materials covers the fundamental physical principles and emerging engineering applications of structured electromagnetic metamaterials that yield a negative refraction as well as other unexpected physical properties. It provides detailed explanations on the history, development, and main achievements of metamaterials. Making it easy to access relevant, up-to-date information on the field, the authors bring together the most important and influential papers related to metamaterials. They present the principles of negative refraction and compare the uniqueness of novel metamaterials with other media that exhibit similar properties. The book discusses the design, optimization, and testing of structured metamaterials as well as applications of metamaterials at frequencies ranging from radio wave to optical. It also explores novel concepts and phenomena, such as the perfect lens for super-resolution imaging, hyper lenses that couple the near-field to radiative modes, electromagnetic cloaking and invisibility, and near-field optical imaging. Connecting theoretical ideas to recent experimental techniques and results, this state-of-the-art book enables an understanding of the basic principles of and research contributions to metamaterials with negative refractive index and their electromagnetic properties.

The propagation of light in dispersive media is a subject of fundamental as well as practical importance. In recent years attention has focused in particular on how refractive index can vary with frequency in such a way that the group velocities of optical pulses can be much greater or much smaller than the speed of light in vacuum, or in which the refractive index can be negative. Treating these topics at an introductory to intermediate level, Fast Light, Slow Light and Left-Handed Light focuses on the basic theory and describes the significant experimental progress made during the past decade. The book pays considerable attention to the fact that superluminal group velocities are not in conflict with special relativity and to the role of quantum effects in preventing superluminal communication and violations of Einstein causality. It also explores some of the basic physics at the opposite extreme of very slow group velocities as well as stopped and regenerated light, including the concepts of electromagnetically induced transparency and dark-state polaritons. Another very active aspect of the subject discussed concerns the possibility of designing metamaterials in which the refractive index can be negative and propagating light is left-handed in the sense that the phase and group velocities are in opposite directions. The last two chapters are an introduction to some of the basic theory and consequences of negative refractive index, with emphasis on the seminal work carried out since 2000. The possibility that "perfect" lenses can be made from negative-index metamaterials-which has been perhaps the most controversial aspect of the field-is introduced and discussed in some detail.

Stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) is the most important example of a stimulated scattering process-light scattering that occurs when the intensity of the light field itself affects the propagating medium. A phenomenon that has been known of for some 35 years in solid state laser research, it has recently become relevant in the optical fiber industry, due to the increasing intensity required in optical fiber cores (and their long interaction lengths). SBS is one of the major limiting factors on the amount of power that can be transmitted via an optical fiber. This book describes the underlying physics of SBS, much of which are applicable to other fields of research, including, to some extent, plasma physics. It provides references to experimental details throughout. Later chapters investigate more advanced concepts and feature the problems faced by researchers using optical fibers.

This book provides an accessible introduction to the mathematical methods of quantum optics. Starting from first principles, it reveals how a given system of atoms and a field is mathematically modelled. The method of eigenfunction expansion and the Lie algebraic method for solving equations are outlined. Analytically exactly solvable classes of equations are identified. The text also discusses consequences of Lie algebraic properties of Hamiltonians, such as the classification of their states as coherent, classical or non-classical based on the generalized uncertainty relation and the concept of quasiprobability distributions. A unified approach is developed for determining the dynamics of a two-level and a three-level atom interacting with combinations of quantized fields under certain conditions. Simple methods for solving a variety of linear and nonlinear dissipative master equations are given.

Covers not only near-field optical microscopy but also wider fields such as local spectroscopy, nano-scale optical processing, quantum near-field optics, and atom manipulation.

Spin angular momentum of photons and the associated polarization of light has been known for many years. However, it is only over the last decade or so that physically realizable laboratory light beams have been used to study the orbital angular momentum of light. In many respects, orbital and spin angular momentum behave in a similar manner, but they differ significantly in others. In particular, orbital angular momentum offers exciting new possibilities with respect to the optical manipulation of matter and to the study of the entanglement of photons. Bringing together 44 landmark papers, Optical Angular Momentum offers the first comprehensive overview of the subject as it has developed. It chronicles the first decade of this important subject and gives a definitive statement of the current status of all aspects of optical angular momentum. In each chapter the editors include a concise introduction, putting the selected papers into context and outlining the key articles associated with this aspect of the subject.

Radar networks are increasingly regarded as an efficient approach to enhancing radar capabilities in the face of popular anti-radar techniques and hostile operating environments. Reader-friendly and self-contained, this book provides a comprehensive overview of the latest radar networking technologies. The text addresses basic, relevant aspects of radar signal processing and statistical theories, including both civilian and military radar applications. It also discusses emerging topics that directly relate to networks, such as multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) radars, waveform design, and diversity via multiple transmitters. Other topics covered include target recognition and imaging using radar networks. Features Gives a comprehensive view of the latest radar network technologies Covers both civilian and military applications of radar Provides basic statistics and signal processing necessary for understanding radar networks Includes up-to-date information on MIMO radars Presents waveform design and diversity for radar networks with multiple transmitters

This book presents a collection of memoir papers on the development of modern and contemporary optics and optoelectronics in China from the 18th to 20th centuries. The papers were written by famous scientists in China, including members of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering, sharing their experience in different fields of optics and optoelectronics development. This is a unique book in understanding the natural science history of optics and optoelectronics. It gives you the general idea about how the western optical science spread to China in the 17th to 18th century; the cradle of the contemporary optics in China; Birth, development and application of lasers in China; high energy and high power lasers for laser antiballistic missile and laser nuclear fusion; development of Chinese optical communication and optical information storage; laser and infrared optics research for space science; development of Chinese optical instruments, etc.

The theory and practice of the non-linear optics of silicon are inextricably linked with a variety of areas of solid state physics, particularly semiconductor physics. However, the current literature linking these fields is scattered across various sources and is lacking in depth. Second Order Non-linear Optics of Silicon and Silicon Nanostructures describes the physical properties of silicon as they apply to non-linear optics while also covering details of the physics of semiconductors. The book contains six chapters that focus on: The physical properties and linear optics of silicon Basic theoretical concepts of reflected second harmonics (RSH) The authors' theory of the generation of RSH at the non-linear medium-linear medium interface An analytical review of work on the non-linear optics of silicon The results of non-linear optical studies of silicon nanostructures A theory of photoinduced electronic processes in semiconductors and their influence on RSH generation The book also includes methodological problems and a significant amount of reference data. It not only reflects the current state of research but also provides a single, thorough source of introductory information for those who are becoming familiar with non-linear optics. Second Order Non-linear Optics of Silicon and Silicon Nanostructures is a valuable contribution to the fields of non-linear optics, semiconductor physics, and microelectronics, as well as a useful resource for a wide range of readers, from undergraduates to researchers.

Optical Properties and Remote Sensing of Inland and Coastal Waters discusses the methodology and the theoretical basis of remote sensing of water. It presents physical concepts of aquatic optics relevant to remote sensing techniques and outlines the problems of remote measurements of the concentrations of organic and inorganic matter in water. It also details the mathematical formulation of the processes governing water-radiation interactions and discusses the development of bio-optical models to incorporate optically complex bodies of water into remote sensing projects. Optical Properties and Remote Sensing of Inland and Coastal Waters derives and evaluates the interrelationships among inherent optical properties of natural water, water color, water quality, primary production, volume reflectance spectra, and remote sensing. This timely and comprehensive text/reference addresses the increasing tendency toward multinational and multidisciplinary climate studies and programs.

Photoluminescence spectroscopy is an important approach for examining the optical interactions in semiconductors and optical devices with the goal of gaining insight into material properties. With contributions from researchers at the forefront of this field, Handbook of Luminescent Semiconductor Materials explores the use of this technique to study semiconductor materials in a variety of applications, including solid-state lighting, solar energy conversion, optical devices, and biological imaging. After introducing basic semiconductor theory and photoluminescence principles, the book focuses on the optical properties of wide-bandgap semiconductors, such as AlN, GaN, and ZnO. It then presents research on narrow-bandgap semiconductors and solid-state lighting. The book also covers the optical properties of semiconductors in the nanoscale regime, including quantum dots and nanocrystals. This handbook explains how photoluminescence spectroscopy is a powerful and practical analytical tool for revealing the fundamentals of light interaction and, thus, the optical properties of semiconductors. The book shows how luminescent semiconductors are used in lasers, photodiodes, infrared detectors, light-emitting diodes, solid-state lamps, solar energy, and biological imaging.

Biomimetic photonics is a burgeoning field. Biologists are finding and describing a whole menagerie of unique and astonishingly complex nano- and microstructures in fauna and flora. Material scientists are developing novel multifunctional and hierarchical structures with a wide variety of post-nano era photonics applications. Mathematicians and computer scientists are using computer models and simulations to understand the underlying principles of biomimetic structures. However, concepts, structures, and phenomena that are well known in one community are quite unknown in others. Exploring a biomimetic approach to developing photonic devices and structures, Biomimetics in Photonics discusses not only the role of and results of biomimicry in engineering, but also the true understanding of natural processes and the application of these techniques to established technologies. Featured Topics Photonic structures in flowers, leaves and fruits and inorganic structures produced in aquatic environment by diatoms, sponges, and shells Mechanisms for biomineralization and how natural structures can be synthetically modified or even used as templates for artificial photonic materials Biological photonic structures in beetles and butterflies and their bio-inspired applications, including anti-reflecting surfaces, iridescent viruses, light reflection, metallic effects, and infrared sensors Suitable for researchers and graduate students, the book does more than describe how to extract good design from nature-Biomimetics in Photonics highlights natural design techniques in context, allowing for a more complete modeling picture. It demonstrates the possibilities and challenges in the move from a laboratory environment to industrial scale production of biomimetic photonic structures.

Although photovoltaics are regarded by many as the most likely candidate for long term sustainable energy production, their implementation has been restricted by the high costs involved. Nevertheless, the theoretical limit on photovoltaic energy conversion efficiency-above 85%-suggests that there is room for substantial improvement of current commercially available solar cells, both silicon and thin-film based. Current research efforts are focused on implementing novel concepts to produce a new generation of low-cost, high-performance photovoltaics that make improved use of the solar spectrum. Featuring contributions from pioneers of next generation photovoltaic research, Next Generation Photovoltaics: High Efficiency through Full Spectrum Utilization presents a comprehensive account of the current state-of-the-art in all aspects of the field. The book first discusses topics, such as multi-junction solar cells (the method closest to commercialization), quantum dot solar cells, hot carrier solar cells, multiple quantum well solar cells, and thermophotovoltaics. The final two chapters of the book consider the materials, fabrication methods, and concentrator optics used for advanced photovoltaic cells. This book will be an essential reference for graduate students and researchers working with solar cell technology.

Ultra-high resolution holograms are now finding commercial and industrial applications in such areas as holographic maps, 3D medical imaging, and consumer devices. Ultra-Realistic Imaging: Advanced Techniques in Analogue and Digital Colour Holography brings together a comprehensive discussion of key methods that enable holography to be used as a technique of ultra-realistic imaging. After a historical review of progress in holography, the book: Discusses CW recording lasers, pulsed holography lasers, and reviews optical designs for many of the principal laser types with emphasis on attaining the parameters necessary for digital and analogue holography Gives a full review of current photosensitive materials for colour holography Covers modern methods of analogue holography and digital holographic printing Introduces mathematical and geometrical notation for horizontal parallax-only holograms and practical computational algorithms for the full-parallax case Reviews systems and the image processing algorithms required to convert the raw image data to the format required by digital printers Develops the physical theory of the holographic grating and the hologram Provides an up-to-date review of illumination sources, including LED and laser diode sources Written by leaders in dynamic holography, this handbook provides complete coverage of real-time colour holographic processes, including applications. The book covers not only the optics and theory behind such holographic systems, but also laser technologies, recording devices, data acquisition and processing techniques, materials for reproduction, and current and developing applications.

This book represents the first comprehensive treatment of high-order harmonic generation in laser-produced plumes, covering the principles, past and present experimental status and important applications. It shows how this method of frequency conversion of laser radiation towards the extreme ultraviolet range matured over the course of multiple studies and demonstrated new approaches in the generation of strong coherent short-wavelength radiation for various applications. Significant discoveries and pioneering contributions of researchers in this field carried out in various laser scientific centers worldwide are included in this first attempt to describe the important findings in this area of nonlinear spectroscopy.High-Order Harmonic Generation in Laser Plasma Plumes is a self-contained and unified review of the most recent achievements in the field, such as the application of clusters (fullerenes, nanoparticles, nanotubes) for efficient harmonic generation of ultrashort laser pulses in cluster-containing plumes and resonance-induced enhancement of harmonic yield. It can be used as an advanced monograph for researchers and graduate students working in the field of nonlinear spectroscopy. It is also suitable for researchers in laser physics and nonlinear optics who wish to have an overview of the advanced achievements in laser ablation-induced high-order harmonic generation spectroscopy. The carefully presented details of this book will be of value to research devoted to the understanding and control frequency conversion of laser pulses in plasma plumes.The studies described in this book pave the way for the development of a new method of materials studies using the laser ablation-induced high-order harmonic generation spectroscopy, which can exploit the spectral and structural properties of various solid-state materials through their ablation and further propagation of short laser pulse through laser-produced plasma and generation of high-order harmonics.

The field of nonlinear optics, which has undergone a very rapid development since the discovery of lasers in the early sixties, continues to be an active and rapidly developing - search area. The interest is mainly due to the potential applications of nonlinear optics: - rectly in telecommunications for high rate data transmission, image processing and recognition or indirectly from the possibility of obtaining large wavelength range tuneable lasers for applications in industry, medicine, biology, data storage and retrieval, etc. New phenomena and materials continue to appear regularly, renewing the field. This has proven to be especially true over the last five years. New materials such as organics have been developed with very large second- and third-order nonlinear optical responses. Imp- tant developments in the areas of photorefractivity, all optical phenomena, frequency conv- sion and electro-optics have been observed. In parallel, a number of new phenomena have been reported, some of them challenging the previously held concepts. For example, solitons based on second-order nonlinearities have been observed in photorefractive materials and frequency doubling crystals, destroying the perception that third order nonlinearities are - quired for their generation and propagation. New ways of creating and manipulating nonl- ear optical materials have been developed. An example is the creation of highly nonlinear (second-order active) polymers by static electric field, photo-assisted or all-optical poling. Nonlinear optics involves, by definition, the product of electromagnetic fields. As a con- quence, it leads to the beam control.

This book presents fresh insights into analogue quantum simulation. It argues that these simulations are a new instrument of science. They require a bespoke philosophical analysis, sensitive to both the similarities to and the differences with conventional scientific practices such as analogical argument, experimentation, and classical simulation. The analysis situates the various forms of analogue quantum simulation on the methodological map of modern science. In doing so, it clarifies the functions that analogue quantum simulation serves in scientific practice. To this end, the authors introduce a number of important terminological distinctions. They establish that analogue quantum 'computation' and 'emulation' are distinct scientific practices and lead to distinct forms of scientific understanding. The authors also demonstrate the normative value of the computation vs. emulation distinction at both an epistemic and a pragmatic level. The volume features a range of detailed case studies focusing on: i) cold atom computation of many-body localisation and the Higgs mode; ii) photonic emulation of quantum effects in biological systems; and iii) emulation of Hawing radiation in dispersive optical media. Overall, readers will discover a normative framework to isolate and support the goals of scientists undertaking analogue quantum simulation and emulation. This framework will prove useful to both working scientists and philosophers of science interested in cutting-edge scientific practice.

In recent years, there has been increasing activity in the research and design of optical systems based on liquid crystal (LC) science. Bringing together contributions from leading figures in industry and academia, Optical Applications of Liquid Crystals covers the range of existing applications as well as those in development. Unique in its thorough coverage of applications, not just the basic chemistry and physics of liquid crystals, the book begins with the existing applications of liquid crystals, from the ubiquitous LCD through to LC projectors and holography. The remaining chapters discuss more promising technologies in development, including photoaligning, photopatterning, and bistable twisted nematic LCs.