Optics f2f: From Fourier to Fresnel

This textbook on optics provides an introduction to key concepts of wave optics and light propagation. It uniquely makes extensive use of Fourier methods and the angular-spectrum approach, especially to provide a unified approach to Fraunhofer and Fresnel diffraction. A recurring theme is that simple building blocks such as plane and spherical waves can be summed to construct useful solutions. The text pays particular attention to analysing topics in contemporary optics such as propagation, dispersion, laser beams and wave guides, apodisation, tightly-focused vector fields, unconventional polarization states, and light-matter interactions. Throughout the text, the principles are applied through worked examples, and the book is copiously illustrated with more than 240 figures. The 200 end-of-chapter exercises offer further opportunities for testing the reader's understanding.

Table of Contents:
1: Light as a Wave 2: One Wave: Plane or Curved 3: Two Waves: Interference 4: Polarization 5: Many Waves I: Fresnel and Fraunhofer 6: Many Waves II: Fourier 7: Optical Phenomena in the Time-Domain 8: Coherence 9: Optical Imaging 10: Spatial Filtering 11: Light Propagation: Beams and Guides 12: Vector Light Fields 13: Light and Matter

About the Author :
Charles S. Adams is a professor in the Department of Physics at Durham University. He obtained his PhD at the University of Strathclyde and did his postdoctoral research at Konstanz and Stanford Universities. He has been at Durham since 1995. Adams is the winner of the IOP 2014 Thomson Medal and Prize. Ifan G. Hughes is a professor in the Department of Physics at Durham University. He obtained his DPhil at Oxford University, and did his postdoctoral research at Oxford, Yale and Sussex Universities. He has been at Durham since 1999. Hughes is the coauthor of Measurements and Their Uncertainties (Oxford University Press, 2010).

Review :
This is a very comprehensive and well organized book on optics. It captures the most essential aspects of modern optics and is a great resource and reference for anyone studying or interested in optics. A must have. This highly recommended undergraduate textbook evolved from the authors two decades of teaching optics with an emphasis on physical understanding and modern content such as tightly focused vector fields (microscopy and optical tweezers), unconventional polarization states, coherence and light-matter interactionsThe reader is aided by an integrated approach across the book, clear development of all terms, chapter summaries, extensive marginal notes, many computer simulations of optical phenomena, 240 figures, 200 exercises, references and an index. The book is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate optics courses. It would also serve as a handy reference text for graduate-level research students Classical wave-optics was my first love, and I am sure this book will be responsible for many cases of love at first sight among younger readers. It is a rich blend of useful computer outputs with the results of the beautiful methods developed in the 19th century by scientists, whose only option was to be smart, since they had no computers." The book is appropriate for upper-level undergraduate optics courses. It would also serve as a handy reference text for graduate-level research students Classical wave-optics was my first love, and I am sure Charles Adams and Ian Hughess book will be responsible for many cases of love at first sight among younger readers. It is a rich blend of useful computer outputs with the results of the beautiful methods developed in the 19th century by scientists, whose only option was to be smart, since they had no computers. This is a very comprehensive and well organized book on optics. It captures the most essential aspects of modern optics and is a great resource and reference for anyone studying or interested in optics. A must have.