Introduction to Optics

Orders of Magnitude in Optics.- Electromagnetic Waves.- Geometrical Optics.- Polarized Light-Laws of Reflection.- Birefringence.- Interference.- Diffraction.- Index of Refraction.- Lasers.- Nonlinear Optics.- Raman-Brillouin-Rayleigh Diffusion.- Guided Optics.- Fourier Analysis and Fourier Transform.

Translated from the French edition by the author and thoroughly updated, this book gives an introduction to modern optics at an advanced level. The unique approach, inspired by Richard Feynman, will benefit both students and lecturers alike. The book received the Arnulf-Francon Award of the French Optical Society for excellence in optics teaching. The author is Professor Emeritus at Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, France, and active optics consultant.

From the reviews:

"A thoroughly updated translation from the original French by Chartier (Institut National Polytechnique de Grenoble, France), the book is intended for advanced undergraduates or graduate students. However, a professional in a related field would also find it a superb introduction to the subject. The opening chapters on optics and electromagnetic waves are both clear and concise. The next few chapters survey the concepts behind geometric and wave optics. There are relatively clear mathematical derivations presented for this material. The explanation of the physics through words and diagrams is where this book really shines. It is obvious that the author has worked in the field for many years, and he describes the phenomena in comprehensible ways that bring the material alive. There is a brief chapter on the index of refraction and the mechanisms involved with propagation in materials. There are chapters on lasers, nonlinear optics, diffusion and scattering, and guided optics. A final chapter discusses Fourier analysis. An excellent book for anyone interested in an introduction to optics with an appropriate background in physics and math." -Choice, November 2005

"This book gives an introduction to modern optics at an advanced level. The unique approach ... will benefit both students and lecturers alike. ... The book is complete and very clear. ... The author tries new ways of presenting optics. For me, this is an interesting point of view. ... I recommend the book to teachers and professionals of optics. No doubt that it will be in all physics libraries in the future." (Michel Wautelet, Physicalia, Vol. 28 (4-6), 2006)

"This wonderfully useful book is a translation and update by the author of the 1997 Manuel d'optique. The style of writing is excellent ... . If I were planning or teaching a senior course in optics, Chartier's Introduction to Optics would be my guide and chosen text. ... A nice feature of thetext is that