This newly-updated edition of a successful reference and text covers the fundamental properties of photon and light beams, both experimentally and theoretically. It emphasizes the essentials of linear interactions and most of the nonlinear interactions between light and matter in both the transparent and absorbing cases. It also provides a basic knowledge of modern lasers, as well as the principles of nonlinear optical spectroscopy. Enriched by a large number of calculated illustrations, examples, and descriptive tables, it offers graduate students in physics and electrical engineering, as well as other sciences, a thorough introduction to the field, while for lecturers and scientists it offers a rich source of useful information and a ready-to-hand reference. From first-edition reviews: "Almost a handbook, reviewing in a single author's voice the basic properties of light and its linear and nonlinear interactions with matter, both in the absence and in the presence of absorption." Physics Today

Klappentext

Deals with the fundamental properties of photon and light beams, both experimentally and theoretically. It covers the essentials of linear interactions and most of the nonlinear interactions between light and matter in both the transparent and absorbing cases. About 4000 references open access to original literature.

Inhalt

1. Topics in Photonics.- 2. Properties and Description of Light.- 3. Linear Interactions Between Light and Matter.- 4. Nonlinear Interactions of Light and Matter Without Absorption.- 5. Nonlinear Interactions of Light and Matter with Absorption.- 6. Lasers.- 7. Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy.- Further Reading.- References.- 1. Topics in Photonics.- 2. Properties and Description of Light.- 3. Linear Interactions Between Light and Matter.- 4. Nonlinear Interactions of Light and Matter Without Absorption.- 5. Nonlinear Interactions of Light and Matter with Absorption.- 6. Lasers.- 7. Nonlinear Optical Spectroscopy.- List of Tables.