This textbook provides a sound foundation in physical optics by covering key concepts in a rigorous but accessible manner. Propagation of electromagnetic waves is examined from multiple perspectives, with explanation of which viewpoints and methods are best suited to different situations. After an introduction to the theory of electromagnetism, reflection, refraction, and dispersion, topics such as geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, coherence, laser beams, polarization, crystallography, and anisotropy are closely examined. Optical elements, including lenses, mirrors, prisms, classical and Fabry-Perot interferometers, resonant cavities, multilayer dielectric structures, interference and spatial filters, diffraction gratings, polarizers, and birefringent plates, are treated in depth. The coverage also encompasses such seldom-covered topics as modeling of general astigmatism via 4x4 matrices, FFT-based numerical methods, and bianisotropy, with a relativistic treatment of optical activity and the Faraday and Fresnel-Fizeau effects. Finally, the history of optics is discussed.

This textbook provides a sound foundation in physical optics by covering key concepts in a rigorous but accessible manner. Propagation of electromagnetic waves is examined from multiple perspectives, with explanation of which viewpoints and methods are best suited to different situations. After an introduction to the theory of electromagnetism, reflection, refraction, and dispersion, topics such as geometrical optics, interference, diffraction, coherence, laser beams, polarization, crystallography, and anisotropy are closely examined. Optical elements, including lenses, mirrors, prisms, classical and Fabry-Perot interferometers, resonant cavities, multilayer dielectric structures, interference and spatial filters, diffraction gratings, polarizers, and birefringent plates, are treated in depth. The coverage also encompasses such seldom-covered topics as modeling of general astigmatism via 4x4 matrices, FFT-based numerical methods, and bianisotropy, with a relativistic treatment of optical activity and the Faraday and Fresnel-Fizeau effects. Finally, the history of optics is discussed.

Questo libro costituisce un fondamento solido per la conoscenza dell'Ottica Fisica, presentando vari modi di trattare la propagazione di onde elettromagnetiche e indicando quali siano i metodi utili a specifici casi. Iniziando dall'elettromagnetismo, la riflessione, la rifrazione e la dispersione delle onde, espone argomenti quali l'Ottica Geometrica, l'Interferenza, la Diffrazione, la Coerenza, i fasci Laser, la Polarizzazione, la Cristallografia e l'Anisotropia. Tratta componenti ottici come lenti, specchi, prismi, interferometri classici, Fabry-Perot e cavita risonanti, multistrati dielettrici, filtri interferenziali e spaziali, reticoli di diffrazione, polarizzatori e lamine birifrangenti. Vi sono inoltre argomenti poco reperibili, come il metodo delle matrici 4x4 per lo studio di fronti d'onda generalmente astigmatici, i metodi numerici tramite FFT per il calcolo della diffrazione, e la Bi-anisotropia, che tratta relativisticamente l'attivita ottica e gli effetti Faraday e Fresnel-Fizeau. Particolare cura e stata posta nel contestualizzare gli argomenti scientifici al periodo storico e agli scienziati che hanno sviluppato i temi trattati.