Discusses the topological charge of an optical vortex is equal to the number of screw dislocations or the number of phase singularities in the beam cross-section Presents a single approach based on the M. Berry formula Describes the topological competition between different optical vortices in a superposition Demonstrates the stability of the topological charge to random phase distortions and insensitivity to amplitude distortions Contains many numerical examples, which clearly show how the phase of optical vortices changes during propagation in free space and the topological charge is preserved

Optical Fiber Sensors: Advanced Techniques and Applications describes the physical principles of, and latest developments in, optical fiber sensors. Providing a fundamental understanding of the design, operation, and practical applications of fiber optic sensing systems, this book: Discusses new and emerging areas of research including photonic crystal fiber sensors, micro- and nanofiber sensing, liquid crystal photonics, acousto-optic effects in fiber, and fiber laser-based sensing Covers well-established areas such as surface plasmon resonance sensors, interferometric fiber sensors, polymer fiber sensors, Bragg gratings in polymer and silica fibers, and distributed fiber sensors Explores humidity sensing applications, smart structure applications, and medical applications, supplying detailed examples of the various fiber optic sensing technologies in use Optical Fiber Sensors: Advanced Techniques and Applications draws upon the extensive academic and industrial experience of its contributing authors to deliver a comprehensive introduction to optical fiber sensors with a strong practical focus suitable for undergraduate and graduate students as well as scientists and engineers working in the field.

This reference provides an overview of near-Earth laser communication theory developments including component and subsystem technologies, fundamental limitations, and approaches to reach those limits. It covers basic concepts and state-of-the-art technologies, emphasizing device technology, implementation techniques, and system trades. The authors discuss hardware technologies and their applications, and also explore ongoing research activities and those planned for the near future. This new edition includes major to minor revisions with technology updates on nearly all chapters.

As the race to build the world's first quantum computer is coming to an end, the race to build the quantum internet has just started. This book leverages the author's unique insights into both the Chinese and American quantum programs. It begins with the physics and history of the quantum internet and ends with the latest results in quantum computing and quantum networks. The Chinese quantum Sputnik moment. The U.S. National Quantum Initiative. What's up with Quantum Computing Supremacy? The Race to Build the Quantum Internet. Where will Quantum Technology be Tomorrow? Written by a renowned quantum physicist, this book is for everyone who is interested in the rapidly advancing field of Quantum Technology - The Second Quantum Revolution. The 2016 launch of the Chinese quantum satellite Mozi was a quantum Sputnik moment. The United States went from thinking it was ten years ahead of the Chinese to the realization that it was ten years behind them. This quantum gap led to the U.S. National Quantum Initiative, launched in 2018. Since then, the race to build the quantum internet has taken off at breakneck speed.

Head, Eye, and Face Personal Protective Equipment: New Trends, Practice, and Applications presents protective equipment in the context of the latest design trends, materials, and technologies. It informs the reader using basic safety principles to avoid issues with commonly used personal protective equipment (PPE), such as helmets and eye and face protectors. It provides the latest design trends in eye and face protectors to avoid optical hazards and for use in variable lighting conditions. Features: * Fills the gap on current solutions of PPE and occupational safety * Educates in reducing risk connected with using industrial safety gear * Helpful to optometrists in the selection of eye protection for people with visual impairments * Instructs the reader on choosing smart materials and safety products * Provides best practices for checking the technical condition of the equipment This book is essential for the safety professional and medical experts in the field. It provides an interdisciplinary approach to personal protective equipment using new technologies in the field. "The monograph Head, Eye, and Face Personal Protective Equipment - New Trends, Practice and Applications is a complementary and thoughtful but selected compilation of the most relevant information concerning protective helmets as well as eye and face protection. The compilation of these two protection types is the result of the common use of both protective helmets and eye and face protectors. This requires their full compatibility, both in terms of ensuring optimum safety and comfort of use. The authors have chosen the material according to the needs of people directly responsible for safety at work and users of those protectors. The main aim of the work is to popularise knowledge in the field of construction, research methods, selection and use of protective helmets and eye and face protectors. In terms of use, the authors emphasise the necessity of independent control, i.e. checking the technical condition of the equipment used by the end users. The presented monograph includes the current state of knowledge in this scope, extended by the results and summaries of the authors' own research. All requirements and research methods are given based on European (EN), international (ISO) standards and standards operating in different geographical areas. The monograph also encompasses new trends in the design of protective helmets and eye and face protectors. All this allows me to emphasize the uniqueness of this monograph in relation to previous publications in this field, both in terms of the scope and selection of information concerning protective helmets and eye and face protectors." - Ryszard Korycki, Lodz University of Technology

Discusses mainly fundamentals and applications of dynamic holography using photorefractive crystals and many different types of digital holography Covers developments in holography starting from photopolymer recording techniques to CMOS based digital holography Examines important applications of each topic like digital holographic microscopy, Real-Time/Time Average/Double exposure digital holographic interferometry, digital holographic photoelasticity for stress or strain measurements Discusses principles of Stokes/Correlation holography Includes homework problems and a solutions manual for adopting professors

This introductory text develops the reader's fundamental understanding of core principles and experimental aspects underlying the operation of nanoelectronic devices. The author makes a thorough and systematic presentation of electron transport in quantum-confined systems such as quantum dots, quantum wires, and quantum wells together with Landauer-Buttiker formalism and non-equilibrium Green's function approach. The coverage encompasses nanofabrication techniques and characterization tools followed by a comprehensive exposition of nanoelectronic devices including resonant tunneling diodes, nanoscale MOSFETs, carbon nanotube FETs, high-electron-mobility transistors, single-electron transistors, and heterostructure optoelectronic devices. The writing throughout is simple and straightforward, with clearly drawn illustrations and extensive self-study exercises for each chapter. Introduces the basic concepts underlying the operation of nanoelectronic devices. Offers a broad overview of the field, including state-of-the-art developments. Covers the relevant quantum and solid-state physics and nanoelectronic device principles. Written in lucid language with accessible mathematical treatment. Includes extensive end-of-chapter exercises and many insightful diagrams.

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.

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.

Metamaterials: Beyond Crystals, Noncrystals, and Quasicrystals is a comprehensive and updated research monograph that focuses on recent advances in metamaterials based on the effective medium theory in microwave frequencies. Most of these procedures were conducted in the State Key Laboratory of Millimeter Waves, Southeast University, China. The book conveys the essential concept of metamaterials from the microcosmic structure to the macroscopic electromagnetic properties and helps readers quickly obtain needed skills in creating new devices at microwave frequencies using metamaterials. The authors present the latest progress on metamaterials and transformation optics and provide abundant examples of metamaterial-based devices accompanied with detailed procedures to simulate, fabricate, and measure them. Comprised of ten chapters, the book comprehensively covers both the fundamentals and the applications of metamaterials. Along with an introduction to the subject, the first three chapters discuss effective medium theory and artificial particles. The next three chapters cover homogeneous metamaterials (super crystals), random metamaterials (super noncrystals), and inhomogeneous metamaterials (super quasicrystals). The final four chapters examine gradient-index inhomogeneous metamaterials, nearly isotropic inhomogeneous metamaterials, and anisotropic inhomogeneous metamaterials, after which the authors provide their conclusions and closing remarks. The book is completely self-contained, making it easy to follow.

The book introduces optical wave propagation in the irregular turbulent atmosphere and the relations to laser beam and LIDAR applications for both optical communication and imaging. It examines atmosphere fundamentals, structure, and content. It explains specific situations occurring in the irregular atmosphere and for specific natural phenomena that affect optical ray and laser beam propagation. It emphasizes how to use LIDAR to investigate atmospheric phenomena and predict primary parameters of the irregular turbulent atmosphere and suggests what kinds of optical devices to operate in different atmospheric situations to minimize the deleterious effects of natural atmospheric phenomena.

This much-needed text brings the treatment of optical pattern recognition up-to-date in one comprehensive resource. Optical pattern recognition, one of the first implementations of Fourier Optics, is now widely used, and this text provides an accessible introduction for readers who wish to get to grips with how holography is applied in a practical context. A wide range of devices are addressed from a user perspective and are accompanied with detailed tables enabling performance comparison, in addition to chapters exploring computer-generated holograms, optical correlator systems, and pattern matching algorithms. This book will appeal to both lecturers and research scientists in the field of electro-optic devices and systems. Features: Covers a range of new developments, including computer-generated holography and 3D image recognition Accessible without a range of prior knowledge, providing a clear exposition of technically difficult concepts Contains extensive examples throughout to reinforce learning

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.

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.

The main aim of this book is to introduce the concept of photonic information processing technologies to the graduate and post-graduate students, researchers, engineers and scientists. It is expected to give the readers an insight into the concepts of photonic techniques of processing as a system, the photonic devices as required components which are applied in the areas of communication, computation and intelligent pattern recognition.

"...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.

Completely revised and reorganized while retaining the approachable style of the first edition, Infrared Detectors, Second Edition addresses the latest developments in the science and technology of infrared (IR) detection. Antoni Rogalski, an internationally recognized pioneer in the field, covers the comprehensive range of subjects necessary to understand modern IR detector theory and technology. He presents each topic with a brief summary of historical background followed by summary of principles underlying performance, an overview of properties, and analysis of the state of the art. Divided into four sections, the book covers fundaments of IR detection, IR thermal detectors, IR photon detectors, and focal plane arrays. It begins with a tutorial introduction to essential of different types of IR detectors and systems. The author explores the theory and technology of different thermal detectors and then moves on to the theory and technology of photon detectors. He concludes his treatment with a discussion of IR focal plane arrays where relations between performance of detector array and infrared system quality are considered. New to the Second Edition: Fundamentals of IR detection, radiometry, and flux-transfer issues needed for IR detector and system analysis Major achievements and trends in the development of IR detectors Novel uncooled detectors such as cantilever, antenna, and optically coupled detectors Type II superlattice detectors Quantum dot IR detectors Terahertz (THz) arrays and new generation of IR detectors, so-called third generation detectors The author accomplishes the difficult task of making the information accessible to a wide readership. A comprehensive analysis of the latest developments in IR detector technology and basic insight into the fundamental processes important to evolving detection techniques, the book provides the most complete and up-to-date resource of its kind, including a summary of useful data, guide to the literature, and overview of applications.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Optical components are essential key elements in modern engineering and everyday life. The education of skilled personnel and specialists in the fields of theoretical and practical optics manufacturing is of essential importance for next-generation technologies. Against this background, this book provides the basis for the education and advanced training of precision and ophthalmic optics technicians, craftsmen, and foremen, and it is an extensive reference work for students, academics, optical designers or shop managers, and production engineers. It not only covers particularly used and applied machines, working materials, testing procedures, and machining steps for classical optics manufacturing, but it also addresses the production and specification of optical glasses as well as unconventional production techniques and novel approaches. Optics Manufacturing: Components and Systems furthermore covers the basics of light propagation and provides an overview on optical materials and components; presents an introduction and explanation of the necessary considerations and procedures for the initial definition of manufacturing tolerances and the relevant industrial standards for optics manufacturing; and addresses the production of micro optics, the assembly of opto-mechanical setups and possible manufacturing errors, and the impact of the resulting inaccuracies. In order to allow fast and clear access to the most essential information, each chapter ends with a short summary of the most important aspects, including an explanation of relevant equations, symbols, and abbreviations. For further reading, extensive lists of references are also provided. Finally, exercises on the covered basic principles of optics, approaches, and techniques of optics manufacturing-including their corresponding detailed solutions-are found in the appendix.