Customer Reviews

Photonic Crystals: Molding the Flow of Light

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First, a disclaimer: I am a graduate student working within the research group of two of the authors (JDJ & SGJ). I used the first edition of this book (as did many other researchers) extensively when being first introduced to this field and have been able to compare it with this most recent edition given my familiarity with both editions. The 2nd edition is a significant improvement over the 1st edition, for many reasons: 1) the content is further polished and well presented (owing in part to the emphasis on clarity in communication placed within our group), 2) the figures, equations, and fonts are much more readable than before and 3) there are at least three new chapters that provide timely information on emerging subfields (periodic dielectric waveguides, photonic crystal slabs and photonic crystal fibers). An extensive (and expanded) bibliography and appendix (with an extra section on computational photonics) supplement the main text well. The book is at least twice as thick as the 1st edition with new and updated content and is exquisitely bound & illustrated. Indeed, it is true that a free copy of this book has been posted on the authors' website, but owning a hard copy is a valuable reference as well. The 2nd edition is not simply a superficial revision of the 1st, it is a much needed improvement for a field that has seen a tremendous amount of growth in the intervening years of the books' first publication.

Graduate students (or advanced physics undergrads) will appreciate the beautiful analogy this book makes between solid state physics, which gave us semiconductor devices, and the newer field of photonics, which promises a revolution in optical devices. The writing is clear and consise, and the many colorful illustrations aid the reader in formulating a picture of how it all works. Just plain WELL DONE -- more physics texts should read like this one.

As a co-author of the new edition, I'm obviously a bit biased, but I think this book occupies a unique position in this field as a broad advanced-undergraduate/beginning-graduate introduction to photonic crystals and light in periodic media, focusing on timeless fundamentals and richly illustrated with examples of many different structures. Compared to the first edition, it is greatly expanded and improved, with almost every chapter seeing significant revisions and several entirely new chapters; the second edition is roughly double the length of the first.

However, the main reason I am posting here is that you don't need to take my word for it; the publishers have allowed us to post a PDF of the entire book online for no cost, so you can determine whether it is useful to you before purchasing the paper version (beautifully printed in full color). See ab-initio.mit.edu/book (where you can also find errata etcetera).

Compared to classic textbooks like Hecht or Jackson, this book occupies a somewhat different ground. It is not concerned with geometric optics (where the wavelength is small compared to the structure) or with the handful of geometries that can be solved almost completely analytically (vacuum, planes, cylinders, and spheres). Rather, it deals with the vast array of problems in nanophotonics where the wavelength is comparable to the structure, and especially with periodic (or partially periodic) "crystalline" structures. In these cases, although completely analytical solutions are usually impossible, the book explains how there are more general principles such as symmetry and linear algebra that reveal the fundamental structure and behavior of light in such media. The book uses these principles to explain the most important optical properties of these structures, from confinement of light in 3d band gaps to periodic dielectric waveguides and optical fibers. It also introduces the powerful tool of temporal coupled-mode theory to design devices by coupling waveguides and microcavities.

This is a fish of a good book! The information that has come out in the last ten years about photonic band-gap materiels can be confusing and offputting. This book enables any astute reader a comprehension of the various properties that come into play when dealing with and controlling the propogation of light. I recommend it highly for use in the classroom as well as for the bedstand.

Keeping in mind, I started my research in photonic crystals with my advisor referring me to this book. So, I am speaking as a first-year graduate student with basic physics background. Hopefully, you come in this category of inexperience looking for some advice on approaching a difficult subject to understand. My only suggestion is to ask around your research group for other reading materials and also get to know your library well. In any case, you can also check out my profile which has a listing of optics and photonic crystal books that can help you out as well. So, I just wanted to let you know where I am coming from since other reviewers might be educators who already have a good understanding of photonic crystals. In some ways, it pretty much assumes alot of knowledge like my advisor who assumed me to be much the same which I was not.

In this fairly thin book, Joannopoulos basically rehashes the concepts of photonic crystals from his review papers in journals. Although this book may be appropriate who have read his articles, it probably is not the best source for undergrad/grad students who want to really get the details. The book has some illustrations which may or may not get the point across to readers. For beginners, I would suggest going to "Scientific American" article which Joannopoulos writes to a general audience with little or no background in optics. This gives a wonderful explanation about total internal reflection and how it relates to fiber optics. Then, it ties into the idea of crystals trapping light. Afterwards, you can consult with an undergrad optics book (Hecht or Pedrotti) which will go into basic optics. The price of this book is also quite expensive for just a short overview. So, I would have to advise strongly against purchasing without at least borrowing/reading it ahead of time. Just ask your professor/advisor who will most likely have a copy on his bookshelf. Although this is widely used as a reference, it is decent and also the only one out there. But in my opinion, it's hard to write a book on emerging technology for budding scientists. Also, technology changes so this information will later be dated with new findings.

"Photonic Crystals" is an excelent startpoint for those who want to understand how we can control and use wisely the light. The book starts with a basic introduction starting from Maxwell equations and develops the whole theory necessary to understand the propagation of light in 1D, 2D and 3D periodic structures. It is not directed for those who want to know what is being done today in the research field but rather it is an excelent introduction for beginners. Highly recommended.

I am a graduate student in the field of photonic and I learned most of what I know about photonic crystals from this book. It is very well written and does not assume much background knowledge, except perhaps some familiarity with basic notions in electromagnetism, which is fair considering the topic. To the mathematically inclined: Joannopoulos emphasizes concepts and numerics over analytic calculations, and therefore you might want to supplement it with another, more mathematically rigorous introduction to electromagnetism in periodic media. It is a great reference book and certainly deserves a spot in the library of every photonics researcher.

Although the book is a little above me at the moment, its well written and hopefully it will be an asset in my future work.

With help of this new theory,we can turn so many things into realities which can't even be imagined several years ago. This theory urges us to look on things in a brand new way! I think miracles will come forth after our studying.

The greatly expanded and revised second edition of this book is currently in production and is due out in March 2008. Just so you know, in case you were planning on purchasing the 1st edition soon.