Current developments in optical technologies are being directed toward nanoscale devices with subwavelength dimensions, in which photons are manipulated on the nanoscale. Although light is clearly the fastest means to send information to and from the nanoscale, there is a fundamental incompatibility between light at the microscale and devices and processes at the nanoscale. Nanostructured metals which support surface plasmon modes can concentrate electromagnetic (EM) fields to a small fraction of a wavelength while enhancing local field strengths by several orders of magnitude. For this reason, plasmonic nanostructures can serve as optical couplers across the nano-micro interface: metal-dielectric and metal-semiconductor nanostructures can act as optical nanoantennae and enhance light matter coupling in nanoscale devices. This book describes how one can fully integrate plasmonic nanostructures into dielectric, semiconductor, and molecular photonic devices, for guiding photons across the nano-micro interface and for detecting molecules with unsurpassed sensitivity.
-Nanophotonics and Nanoplasmonics
-Metamaterials and negative-index materials
-Plasmon-enhanced sensing and spectroscopy
-Imaging and sensing on the nanoscale
-Metal Optics

During the past two decades, there has been an increasing appreciation of the significant value that lifetime-based techniques can add to biomedical studies and applications of fluorescence. Bringing together perspectives of different research communities, Fluorescence Lifetime Spectroscopy and Imaging: Principles and Applications in Biomedical Diagnostics explores the remarkable advances in time-resolved fluorescence techniques and their role in a wide range of biological and clinical applications. Broadly accessible, the book captures the state-of-the-art of fluorescence lifetime metrology and imaging and provides current perspectives on their applications to biomedical studies of intact tissues and medical diagnosis. The text introduces these techniques within the wider context of fluorescence spectroscopy and describes basic principles underlying current instrumentation for fluorescence lifetime imaging and metrology (FLIM). It also covers the wide range of methods, including single channel (point) spectroscopy, fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy, and single- and multi-photon excitation. Edited by pioneers in this field, with contributions from leading experts, the book includes an overview of complementary techniques that help researchers beginning FLIM research. It offers a comprehensive treatment of fundamental principles, instrumentation, analytical methods, and applications. It also provides an overview of the label-free contrast available from lifetime measurements of tissue autofluorescence and the prospects for exploiting this for clinical applications and biomedical research including drug discovery.

Achieve the Best Camera Design: Up-to-Date Information on MCMs Miniature camera modules (MCMs), such as webcams, have rapidly become ubiquitous in our day-to-day devices, from mobile phones to interactive TV systems. MCMs-or "smart" cameras-can zoom, adjust their frame rate automatically with illumination change, focus at different distances, compensate for hand shake, and transform captured images. With contributions from academics and field engineers, Smart Mini-Cameras discusses the structure, operation principles, applications, and future trends of miniature mobile cameras. It compares this technology with traditional digital still cameras and explains the specific requirements of MCM components (imposed by the size or type of application) in terms of optical design, image sensor, and functionalities. The book describes the implementation of several active functionalities, including liquid crystal auto focus (AF) and optical image stabilization (OIS). It also explores how new technologies, such as the curved detector and transforming optics, are stimulating novel trends, including a miniature panoramic lens on mobile phones. By providing you with an understanding of the components and performance tradeoffs of MCMs, this book will help you achieve the best camera design. It also answers frequently asked questions, such as the importance of the number of megapixels in a mobile phone camera and the value of AF and OIS features.

Bringing together researchers from twenty-five countries, Narrow Gap Semiconductors: Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Narrow Gap Semiconductors discusses the recent advances and discoveries in the science and technology of narrow gap semiconductors (NGS). In particular, it explores the latest findings in the fundamental physics of narrow gap materials and quantum heterostructures as well as device physics, including mid- and far-infrared lasers, detectors, and spintronic devices. This volume forms a solid presentation in several important areas of NGS research, including materials, growth and characterization, fundamental physical phenomena, and devices and applications. It examines the novel material of InAs and its related alloys, heterostructures, and nanostructures as well as more traditional NGS materials such as InSb, PbTe, and HgCdTe. Several chapters cover carbon nanotubes and spintronics, along with spin-orbit coupling, nonparabolicity, and large g-factors. The book also deals with the physics and applications of low-energy phenomena at the infrared and terahertz ranges. Continuing the high-quality tradition of this series, Narrow Gap Semiconductors covers all aspects of NGS to offer an authoritative, well-balanced perspective of this evolving field.

When the World Trade Center was attacked, George Gilder referred to the terrorists as "Osama Bin Luddites," suggesting that it was American technology that was under attack. Even--and especially in the digital age--the turn against technology is powerful, and the Luddite cause does not disappear.
This book addresses the question of what it might mean today to be a Luddite--that is, to take a stand against technology. Steven Jones here explains the history of the Luddites, British textile works who, from around 1811, proclaimed themselves followers of "Ned Ludd" and smashed machinery they saw as threatening trade.Against Technology is not a history of the Luddites, but a history of an idea: how the activities of a group of British workers in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire came to stand for a global anti--technology philosophy, and how an anonymous collective movement came to be identified with an individualistic personal conviction. Angry textile workers in the early nineteenth century became symbols of a desire for a simple life--certainly not the goal of the actions for which they became famous. Against Technology is, in other words, a book about representations, about the image and the myth of the Luddites and how that myth was transformed over time into modern neo-Luddism.

When the World Trade Center was attacked, George Gilder referred to the terrorists as "Osama Bin Luddites," suggesting that it was American technology that was under attack. Even--and especially in the digital age--the turn against technology is powerful, and the Luddite cause does not disappear.
This book addresses the question of what it might mean today to be a Luddite--that is, to take a stand against technology. Steven Jones here explains the history of the Luddites, British textile works who, from around 1811, proclaimed themselves followers of "Ned Ludd" and smashed machinery they saw as threatening trade.Against Technology is not a history of the Luddites, but a history of an idea: how the activities of a group of British workers in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire came to stand for a global anti--technology philosophy, and how an anonymous collective movement came to be identified with an individualistic personal conviction. Angry textile workers in the early nineteenth century became symbols of a desire for a simple life--certainly not the goal of the actions for which they became famous. Against Technology is, in other words, a book about representations, about the image and the myth of the Luddites and how that myth was transformed over time into modern neo-Luddism.

A comprehensive presentation of the theory and simulation of optical waveguides and wave propagations in a guided environment, Guided Wave Photonics: Fundamentals and Applications with MATLAB (R) supplies fundamental and advanced understanding of integrated optical devices that are currently employed in modern optical fiber communications systems and photonic signal processing systems. While there are many texts available in this area, none provide the breadth and depth of coverage and computational rigor found in this one. The author has distilled the information into a very practical, usable format. In a logical progression of theory and application, he starts with Maxwell's equations and progresses directly to optical waveguides (integrated optic and fiber optic), couplers, modulators, nonlinear effects and interactions, and system applications. With up-to-date coverage of applicable algorithms, design guides, material systems, and the latest device and system applications, the book addresses: Fundamentals of guiding optical waves, including theoretical and simplified techniques Linear and nonlinear aspects of optical waveguiding Manipulating lightwaves by coupling and splitting Interactions of lightwaves and ultra-fast electrical travelling waves in modern optical modulators Applications of guided wave devices in optical communication systems and optical signal processing Providing fundamental understanding of lightwave guiding and manipulating techniques, the text covers the field of integrated photonics by giving the principles, theoretical and applications. It explains how to solve the optical modes and their coupling as well as how to manipulate lightwaves for applications in communications and signal processing.

Handbook of Visual Optics offers an authoritative overview of encyclopedic knowledge in the field of physiological optics. It builds from fundamental concepts to the science and technology of instruments and practical procedures of vision correction, integrating expert knowledge from physics, medicine, biology, psychology, and engineering. The chapters comprehensively cover all aspects of modern study and practice, from optical principles and optics of the eye and retina to novel ophthalmic tools for imaging and visual testing, devices and techniques for visual correction, and the relationship between ocular optics and visual perception.

Handbook of Visual Optics offers an authoritative overview of encyclopedic knowledge in the field of physiological optics. It builds from fundamental concepts to the science and technology of instruments and practical procedures of vision correction, integrating expert knowledge from physics, medicine, biology, psychology, and engineering. The chapters comprehensively cover all aspects of modern study and practice, from optical principles and optics of the eye and retina to novel ophthalmic tools for imaging and visual testing, devices and techniques for visual correction, and the relationship between ocular optics and visual perception.

This book will discuss how glass and glass ceramic interact with light, both transiently and permanently. Ways that light permanently alter the properties of glass and glass ceramic like the color, refractive index, and mechanical and chemical behaviors will be included. Each photochromatic phenomenon will be discussed in detail from the physical and chemical origin to the method fabrication and ultimately to their utilization.

Optoelectronic devices are now ubiquitous in our daily lives, from light emitting diodes (LEDs) in many household appliances to solar cells for energy. This handbook shows how we can probe the underlying and highly complex physical processes using modern mathematical models and numerical simulation for optoelectronic device design, analysis, and performance optimization. It reflects the wide availability of powerful computers and advanced commercial software, which have opened the door for non-specialists to perform sophisticated modeling and simulation tasks. The chapters comprise the know-how of more than a hundred experts from all over the world. The handbook is an ideal starting point for beginners but also gives experienced researchers the opportunity to renew and broaden their knowledge in this expanding field.

This book shows there is a profound connection between information and entropy. Without this connection, information would be more difficult to apply to science. This book covers the connection and the application to modern optics and radar imaging. It shows that there exists a profound relationship between Einstein's relativity theory and Schroeinger's quantum mechanics, by means of the uncertainty principle. In due of the uncertainty relation, this book shows that every bit of information takes time and energy to transfer, to create and to observe. The new edition contains 3 new chapters on radar imaging with optics, science in the myth of information, and time and the enigma of space.

This new edition details the important features of beam shaping and exposes the subtleties of the theory and techniques that are best demonstrated through proven applications. New chapters cover illumination light shaping in optical lithography; optical micro-manipulation of live mammalian cells through trapping, sorting, and transfection; and laser beam shaping through fiber optic beam delivery. The book discusses applications in lithography, laser printing, optical data storage, stable isotope separation, and spatially dispersive lasers. It also provides a history of the field and includes extensive references.

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.

This book provides researchers at the forefront of nonlinear optical technologies with robust procedures and software for the systematic investigation of the fundamental phenomena in nonlinear optical waveguide structures. A full vectorial electromagnetic formulation is adopted and the conditions under which simplification to a scalar formulation is possible are clearly indicated. The need to model the dielectric saturation properly is identified, and improved algorithms are presented for obtaining the complete power dispersion curve of structures exhibiting bistability. As the stability analysis of nonlinear modes is crucial to the development of nonlinear model methods, an effective procedure to investigate the propagation of the scalar nonlinear waves in 3D is another important feature of the book. All of the procedures described, as well as an automatic mesh generator for the finite element method, are incorporated into a software package which is included with this book.

Electrical Engineering Quasioptical Systems Gaussian Beam Quasioptical Propagation and Applications The increasing commercial use of millimeter wavelengths for remote sensing, communications, and radar systems has driven the need for new low-cost, high-performance systems, and with it, the need for quasioptical systems. Advantages of quasioptical propagation include broader bandwidth, lower insertion loss, better polarization purity, and higher power-handling capability. As this book illustrates, quasioptical system design using Gaussian beam propagation is relatively straightforward, yielding valuable insights without requiring extensive computations. Combining a general introduction to Gaussian beams and quasioptical propagation with practical applications, Quasioptical Systems provides a state-of-the-art treatment of the design of low-loss, broadband systems at microwave to submillimeter wavelengths. The approach presented involves utilizing a beam with a Gaussian distribution of field strength perpendicular to its axis, which in turn propagates in a simple, predictable fashion. Features include:

• A convenient summary of Gaussian beam propagation formulas
• Extensive coverage of present-day quasioptical components and their performance
• In-depth coverage of dielectric materials uses at millimeter and submillimeter wavelengths
• An analysis of lenses and mirrors used as beam focusing elements
• An integrated approach to quasioptical system design

This book deals specifically with the manipulation of atoms by laser light, describing the focusing, channeling and reflection of atoms by laser fields. It also describes the potential fields required to cause the phase change of the wave function necessary for the atomic interactions to occur.

This book presents recent and important developments in the field of Photonics and Optoelectronics, with a particular focus on Laser Technology, Optical Communications, Optoelectronic Devices and Image Processing. At present, Photonics and Optoelectronics Technologies are pivotal to the future of laser, displays, sensors and communication technologies, and currently being developed at an extraordinary rate. This book details the theories underlying the mechanisms involved in the relevant Photonics and Optoelectronics. Devices such as laser diodes, photodetectors, and integrated optoelectronic circuits are investigated. The reviews by leading experts are of interest to researchers and engineers as well as advanced students.

Held every three years, The International Symposia on the Science and Technology of Light Sources (LS) provide a unique forum for the international community of engineers, scientists, research organizations, and academia from the lighting industry. In Light Sources 2004, leaders in their respective fields discuss the latest findings and exciting developments in light source research. Contributors provide valuable analyses and discussions on topics such as incandescent and halogen sources, fluorescent discharge sources, lamp-related electronic gear, high intensity discharge sources, diagnostics, solid state sources, modeling, dielectric barrier sources, excimer devices, and nonlighting applications.

Inorganic Phosphors: Compositions, Preparation and Optical Properties addresses practical and theoretical aspects of inorganic phosphors used in lighting and display applications. Authors Yen and Weber present the synthesis of phosphors in a ...cookbook... style that features nearly 300 ...recipes... using the most up-to-date guidelines and methods. They also categorize nearly 500 phosphors in terms of chemical composition and luminescence output wavelengths, summarizing their physical and emissive optical properties. This book is the first of its kind to provide a combined practical and technical foundation that can be used in commercial and academic research and development of new phosphors and applications.

This book describes a number of simple methods for showing that light is polarised and determining the direction of vibration. It is based on a demonstration lecture, called 'Polar Explorations in Light' developed for young audiences, at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.

The present book contains an excellent overview of the status and highlights of brilliant light facilities and their applications in biology, chemistry, medicine, material and environmental sciences. Overview papers on diverse fields of research by leading experts are accompanied by the highlights in the near and long-term perspectives of brilliant X-Ray photon beam usage for fundamental and applied research. The book includes advanced topics in the fields of high brightness photon beams, instrumentation, the spectroscopy, microscopy, scattering and imaging experimental techniques and their applications. The book is strongly recommended for students, engineers and scientists in the field of accelerator physics, X-ray optics and instrumentation, life, materials and environmental sciences, bio and nanotechnology.

This study looks at the basic principles of optical parametric processes and recent results on the rapidly developing optical parametric device technology. The theoretical basis of stimulated and spontaneous optical parametric processes and detailed design considerations of optical parametric oscillators and amplifiers are discussed, followed by a review of the materials properties of the most important nonlinear optical crystals for such applications. It concludes with a review of the recent developments on practical low-repetition rate nanosecond optical parametric oscillators and broadly tunable high-repetition rate continuous-pulse-train femtosecond optical parametric oscillations from the uv to the mid ir.

It is interesting to analyze the application of mid-infrared (MIR, 1000-5000 nm) radiation to study the dynamics of the nonlinear optical response of ablated molecular structures compared with commonly used Ti: sapphire lasers for plasma high-order harmonic generation (HHG), including the studies of extended harmonics at a comparable conversion efficiency with shorter wavelength laser sources, and a search for new opportunities in improvement of the HHG conversion efficiency in the mid-IR range, such as the application of clustered molecules. This book shows the most recent findings of various new schemes of the application of MIR pulses for HHG in laser-produced low-ionised, low-density plasma plumes, which could be dubbed for simplicity as 'plasma harmonics'. The use of any element of the periodic table, as well as thousands of complex samples that exist as solids largely extends the range of materials employed, whereas only a few rare gases are typically available for gas HHG. The exploration of practically any solid-state material through the nonlinear spectroscopy comprising laser ablation and harmonic generation can be considered as a new tool for materials science. Thus the MIR pump based laser-ablation-induced high-order harmonic generation spectroscopy can be considered a new method for the study of materials and one of most important applications of plasma HHG.