In recent years, optical properties of the unique atomic and molecular structures of materials have drawn great scientific interest. Linear optical properties of materials such as metals, metal oxides, magnetic oxides, and organic materials are based on energy transfer and find applications in wastewater treatment, forensic science, biomedical science, photovoltaics, nuclear technology, and LED displays. Nonlinear optical properties of materials are based on the nonlinear medium and find more advanced applications in frequency mixing generations and optical parametric oscillations. This book presents the underlying principles, implementation, and applications of the linear and nonlinear optical properties of materials and has been divided into two parts emphasizing these properties. The first part of the book, Linear Optics, discusses bimetallic nanoparticles in dielectric media and their integration to dye molecules to detect trace amounts of heavy metals at the nanometer level, as well as to enhance luminescence and image contrasts in forensic inspection and biomedical diagnosis. It shows how the integration of bimetallic nanoparticles into a ZnO matrix promotes broadening of the absorption spectrum from the ultraviolet to the visible wavelength. It explains the role of surface adsorption and photocatalytic degradation in dye-removal kinetics by Fe3O4 magnetic nanoparticles under pulsed white light. It also discusses the double-layer shielding tank design to safely store radioactive waste and photon propagation through the multilayer structures of a human tissue model. The second part of the book, Nonlinear Optics, presents general concepts such as electromagnetic theory, nonlinear medium, and wave propagation, as well as more advanced concepts such as second harmonic generation, phase matching, optical parametric interactions, different frequency generation, sum frequency generation, tunable laser, and optical resonant oscillator.

This textbook presents the general point of views of the optical properties of solids and gives an overview of the landscape of optics in solid-state materials, especially focusing on optical imaging techniques. It presents the background of electromagnetic theory, which is based on Maxwell's equations. It shows how to manipulate Maxwell's equations in differential forms by utilizing vector analysis and how to calculate the electric field emerging from a single charge and from charge distributions in conductors and dielectrics under Maxwell's boundary conditions. It analyzes the optical spectra from localized electronic states and goes over some well-known phenomena currently under research, such as nonlinear optical response of materials. It also gives a background on optical microscopy, focusing on the optical response of modern confocal microscopy on asymmetric materials, and introduces optical tomographic techniques to identify the locations and profiles of matter, concentrating on fluorescence diffuse optical tomography used as a probe in deep biological tissue. The book is designed for all kinds of learners, especially independent learners, and is aimed to facilitate the visualization of related theoretical concepts. Problem sets have been provided with each chapter to examine the readers' understanding of each concept.

This textbook introduces the general points of view of research methodology in the scientific and engineering fields of studies and presents an overview of the technical and professional communication needed for article publication in journals. It comprises several practice exercises that will give beginners the confidence to move on the communicative activities. Every chapter provides problem sets that will help readers check their understanding of each concept. The book will also help readers formulate specific research topics, research questions, and hypotheses; conduct literature reviews relevant to the research topics; develop applicable research methodologies; and write and present their research outlining the key elements of the proposed projects. It is very useful for students and researchers opting for a course on research methodology and for seminars at undergraduate and graduate levels.