Introduction to Optics (3rd Edition) [Paperback]

Frank L Pedrotti (Author), Leno M Pedrotti (Author), Leno S Pedrotti (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 17, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0131499335 | ISBN-13: 978-0131499331 | Edition: 3

Comprehensive and fully updated, this reader-friendly introduction to optics provides clear, concise derivations and explanations of optical phenomena, avoiding extraneous material. Updates material related to laser systems. Updated chapters on Optical Interferometery, Fiber Optics, and Holography. Introduces a broad range of new applications throughout, including liquid crystal displays, CCD's, CD and DVD Technology. Features a more intensive exploration of communication systems than in previous editions. Provides approximately 50 new problems and 50 new or revised figures. A general reference for optical industry practitioners.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A comprehensive, applications-oriented introduction to geometrical optics, wave optics, and modern optics. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Back Cover

This is a comprehensive, applications-oriented introduction to geometrical optics, wave optics, and modern optics. Contains new chapters on laser beam characteristics and nonlinear optics; expanded coverage of fiber optics; new sections on ray tracing, thick lens, the Doppler effect, and evanescent waves; and valuable coverage of matrix treatment of polarization, Fraunhofer diffraction, Fourier optics, and more. An ideal introductory guide for the physics instructor, specifically those concentrating on optics. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 656 pages
• Publisher: Benjamin Cummings; 3 edition (April 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0131499335
• ISBN-13: 978-0131499331
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #356,975 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good book but may be not as an intro for the novice, May 21, 2005

By 

O. Akin "Humanity lives in all of us" (TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Optics (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

I have given recitations for a course when I was a TA. For my own reference it was very good concerning many matters, when one really needs the problems like reducing aberrations or like multilayer thin film optics or may be even non linear optics, this book is a very honest written book. But I do not know if it is a good idea to talk about aberrations for the people who do not have much idea about Gausssian geometrical optics for instance. Its level is not a graduate level, but, you know, for young people, they do not want to hear about the problems that they may face in life, untill they really do. I still have this book on my shelf, even after shifting to different topics. To me it is a compact and a real life book. Does not talk about myths, tells you the truth of life in optics. But of course Hecht s book is better may be as an introduction, gives a better overall map of the field. If you will have several optics book in your life this is one of them. But only if you work out the problems and think about the reason why they were asked. Every problem in this book is about a real life case in the optoelectronics laboratory and not about a fantasy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Basic information presented in a lucid form..., May 20, 2005

By 

Steven J. Wojtczuk (Lexington, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Introduction to Optics (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

The authors present optics at an intermediate level - not as detailed or complete as Born and Wolf, but it is a mathematical treatment and just slightly on a lower level than Klein and Furtak or Hecht. It is not just a survey. Certain parts of it are extremely good - for example, the chapter on Theory of Multilayer Films presents more useful data on antireflection coatings in a more concise, readable, well-illustrated format than any of the above books. It also presents common applications such as the Snellen eye chart used to measure visual acuity at your opthamologist in an "Optics of the Eye" chapter. Overall, a pretty decent first level optics book.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Solid, clear intro to optics, July 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Introduction to Optics (2nd Edition) (Hardcover)

I used this book for an undergraduate optics class and felt that it was very clear and readable. It is good for a survey optics course, but it lacks some more technical information useful in the laboratory. For classwork and theory, it laid a good foundation. For lab work, I often found myself having to look to other books such as Hecht or Jenkins & White. It has since served as a good reference book for many basic concepts. The concepts and mathematical procedures can be found easily and quickly without wading through the technical parts.