4 comments about Linear Systems, Fourier Transforms, and Optics (Wiley Series in Pure and Applied Optics).

1. Jack Gaskill and his book is the most practical book on this subject. His examples and explainations are straightforeword and organized.



2. I consider Gaskill's book to be the best I've seen for advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate classes on linear systems. Gaskill approaches the subject in a clear and understandable style while dealing with the subject in a complete and quantitative manner. Though he does not eschew mathematical rigor by any means, the text is well written and logically formatted, making it refreshingly easy to follow what is, in other texts, a more difficult subject. Though I've filed Gaskill's book in my library alongside other dealing with optics, this is primarily a book on mathematics, but written more for engineers and scientists than for mathematicians.

   After a brief introduction, the author begins (in chapter 2) with a quick summary of mathematical concepts, including classes of functions, one and two-dimensional functions, complex numbers, phasors, and the scalar wave equation.

   The third chapter introduces useful functions (many of a discontinuous nature) that find application in modeling linear systems. These include step functions and the impulse function in both one and two dimensions. Development of these functions follows an intuitive path that reflects the way in which they are often used. The many figures are particularly useful in conveying concepts more effectively.

   Chapter four develops the theme of harmonic analysis by introducing the notion of orthogonal expansions and extending this development to the Fourier series, leading to development of the Fourier integral. The chapter finishes with some worked examples showing the spectra of simple functions. Chapter 7 seems a little out of place, since it deals with the Fourier transform, yet appears in the book several chapters later, after the author introduces the concepts of linear systems and the convolution.

   Though one of the shorter chapters, chapter five is pivotal, and develops the idea of mathematical operators and physical systems - with the crucial development of the impulse response. The application of the impulse response is extended by chapter 6, which develops the mathematics of convolution. For a linear, shift-invariant system the impulse response convolved with the input to the system gives the system's output.

   Chapter 8 pulls together the material in the previous chapters to mathematically describe the characteristics and applications of linear filters. Examples include amplitude filters, phase filters, combination amplitude and phase filters, and some interesting applications showing (for example) how to filter the noise from a signal of interest. All this development is strictly mathematical, with no real-world worked examples (except in the abstract). Nevertheless, this chapter is very useful and (in the author's style) easy to understand and follow.

   Chapter 9 deals with two-dimensional convolutions and the two-dimensional Fourier transform. This chapter is essentially an extension of the earlier one-dimensional developments in earlier chapters, but introduces some useful mathematical tools, including the convolution and Fourier transform in polar coordinates. The Hankel transform, developed in this chapter, is particularly useful for work in optics where many examples (laser beams, for instance) exhibit circular symmetry. In these examples the two-dimensional integrals may be greatly simplified by the Hankel transform to a one-dimensional form where (even in the absence of a closed-form equation) they are far more tractable. The chapter concludes with useful tables of common transforms.

   Chapter 10 leaves the almost purely mathematical forum of the previous chapters by introducing the subject of propagation and diffraction of optical waves. Gaskill first develops the mathematics of the optical waves and then derives the equations that show how these waves are diffracted. Not surprisingly, the diffraction fields are expressible in terms of the transforms developed earlier in the book. The chapter also describes the influence of optical lenses on the diffraction patterns and the very important subject of propagation of Gaussian beams (since many laser beams, and the fundamental mode in weakly guiding optical fibers have Gaussian profiles).

   Chapter 11 continues the optical theme by explaining image-forming systems. The student will be particularly enabled in this chapter if he or she has had prior exposure to the subject of diffraction and perhaps some exposure to the idea of image aberrations. The book ends with appendix 1, on special functions, and appendix 2, on elementary geometric optics. Each chapter has a list of references, and problems for the student, and the book has a complete index making it useful as a desk references book as well as a textbook for advanced undergraduate and first-year graduate coursework.

   Gaskill's book is mathematically intense, but the author's style and frequent use of figures makes the book surprisingly easy to read. Prerequisites for this book should include a couple of years of calculus, differential equations, and a smattering of linear algebra. Some exposure to concepts in optics, including diffraction and aberrations would also be helpful.

   Gaskill's book will be helpful far beyond optics, with applications in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, digital image processing, or anywhere else that linear systems might be encountered.




3. If you want to survive a first year graduate class on Fourier Optics, get this book. Gaskill is precise and comprehensive, presenting concepts incrementally with ample diagrams to illustrate all along the way. I've got Goodman and Bracewell on my shelf, but it's Gaskill's that's saving my life this semester.



4. This book is a textbook on linear systems, Fourier analysis, diffraction theory, and image formation. It is not a textbook on Fourier optics, but was intended to helps students with the basics before attempting that subject. This book might also be helpful to students that are studying linear systems theory or image processing alone and need an additional reference. There are problems at the end of each chapter, and the problems include both numerical calculations and derivations. No solutions to the problems are included. Numerous examples are shown with complete steps. Some examples are numerical, and many are not. Minus the optical material, I had already seen the rest of the material in the book before I used it, so perhaps I am not the best judge of how complete a textbook it was, but to me it seemed very complete and clear. Unlike many similar textbooks, the author did not assume much about the reader's background other than the Calculus, differential equations, and linear algebra that you would expect any graduate engineering student to have already mastered. I definitely recommend going through it or having access to it before you enroll in a class on Fourier optics.
   
   Chapter 2 presents an elementary review of various properties and classes of mathematical functons, as well as a description of the manner in which these functions represent physical quantities. Chapter 3 introduces a number of special functions that are of great use in later chapters. In particular the rectangle function, the sinc function, the delta function, and the comb function are very useful. Also, several special functions of two variables are described. In Chapter 4 the fundamentals of harmonic analysis are explored as well as how various arbitrary functions may be represented by linear combinations of other more elementary functions. Chapter 5 discusses the physical systems in term of linear operators, and the notions of linearity and shift invariance are introduced. Next, the impulse response function, the transfer function, and the eigenfunctions associated with linear shift-invariant systems are discussed. Chapter 6 is devoted to studies of the convolution, cross-correlation, and autocorrelation operations. The properties of these operations are explored in considerable depth. The fact that the output of a linear shift-invariant system is given by the convolution of the input with the impulse response of the system is derived and explored.
   
   In Chapter 7 the properties of the Fourier transformation is investigated, as well as the importance of this transform in the analysis of linear shift-invariant systems. In chapter 8 the characteristics of various types of linear filters are described. Their applications in various types of signal processing and recovery is discussed. Also discussed is the matched-filter problem and the various interpretations of the sampling theory.
   
   Chapter 9 extends the previous material on one-dimensional systems to two dimensions. In particular, an investigation of convolution and Fourier transformation in two dimensions is conducted, and the Hankel transform and its properties are studied. Also, the line response and edge response functions are introduced. In chapter 10 the propagation and diffraction of optical wave fields in both the Fresnel and Fraunhofer regions is explored. Also studied are the effects of lenses on the diffraction process. Special attention is paid to the curious properties of Gaussian beams in the last section of the chapter.
   
   Finally, in Chapter 11, the concepts of linear systems and Fourier analysis are combined with the theory of diffraction to describe the process of image formation in terms of a linear filtering operation. This is done for both coherent and incoherent imaging, and the corresponding impulse response functions and and transfer functions are discussed in detail.
   
   Several special functions are tabulated in the first appendix for those with little or no previous training in optics, and the fundamentals of geometrical image formation and abberations are presented in the second appendix.

3 comments about Solar Electricity, 2nd Edition.

1. This book is one of the best I have read on the subject of photovoltaic (PV) systems. It has a good balance between all areas of PV system design. Most books with this level of technical content are too skewed toward semiconductor physics and neglect system-level issues. This one covers everything from PV devices (solar cells) to power converters to batteries to system design, and includes useful sections on justification for PV, system application examples, and environmental impacts. The organization and flow are clear and logical. The only problems are some unclear typesetting, exclusion of background on some key equations (references to the literature are included, though), and a little bit of non-standard notation (i.e. G is used for irradiation, not irradiance). Summary: I highly recommend this book for technically literate readers interested in PV systems.



2. If you're looking for a start book on Photovoltaics (PV),this is the one to start with. Dr. Markvart takes you from the principle of solar irradiation, to complete design of a PV generator. He explains himself very easily when talking about solar cell's operation and manufacturing process. When he arrives to PV System Engineering, he shows you exactly all the steps you have to follow for sizing a proper PV system. IF what you're looking for is complete design procedures for PV system, including charge controllers, inverters, battery chargers, this is a good start, but will not help much for designing purpouses. For this you should look for Photovoltaic System Engineering by Dr. Roger Messenger. Another good book by Markvart is Practical PV Handbook; together with Solar Electricity, is a great pack for designers or scientifics working with PV systems.



3. Tomas Markvart is well-known and highly regarded for his microgrid research at the University of Southampton and the Tyndall Centre. Solar Electricity was written for the UNESCO Energy Engineering Series distance learning package, and was intended to be self-contained and accessible to upper level energy engineering students everywhere. Published in 2000, it's still one of the best introductions to the engineering of photovoltaic systems. The detailed Table of Contents on this page gives a good overview of the subjects it covers.

5 comments about The Return of the Solar Cat Book: Mixing Cat Wisdom with Science and Solar Politics.

1. I teach Middle School students all about the world in our tiny self-contained rural school. The topic of solar energy comes up in our physics curriculum; political aberrations are often discussed in our current events class; and, needless to say,we often share pet stories, especially reports on kitty capers.
   I loved The Return of the Solar Cat Book immediately, and I realized my students were ready to appreciate it too. I took a chance and shared it with my students.It was a great decision. They adore the drawings, the author's wry wit, and the way the
   book makes difficult science concepts very accessible.Now we learn and giggle together. I love it. Thank you, Jim Augustyn



2. One of the cleverest, funniest and most informative pieces of science writing to come along in years. Augustyn is equal parts Woody Allen and Stephen Hawking. But make no mistake: "The Return of the Solar Cat Book" is not only a rollicking good read and a visual delight, but an important contribution to the current debate over the nation's energy future. "It's the sun, stupid!" Augustyn is saying. "And here's why -- and how." Should be required reading for Presidents Bush and Putin, Energy Secy. Abraham and Ken Lay. Augustyn is way over the top. I wish I'd thought of "meowium" first.



3. Jim Augustyne takes the Suessian approach to showing the reader our myopia when it comes to the nature of renewable energy, politics, and economics. Solar Energy is nature's way and cats are fundamentally in tune with nature. Even though Augustyne does not use rhyme to make his point, the reason is shown through the fun-house mirror of technologically advanced felines, and their 'natural' instincts and behaviour, optimized for solar utilization. Augustyne has developed an alternate universe of whimsy and pointy satire where kitties rule and our human foibles and blindness to the advantages of solar renewables are entertainingly exposed. The text and drawings unerringly capture feline personality and 'technical' accumen. A real entertainment bargain with a sideways squint at education. For real kids and kids at heart, like engineers, teachers, businessmen, homeowners, and politicians, of all ages.



4. This whimsical look at a usually dead-serious subject (solar energy, not cats) allows the information to sneak in under the "I can't learn that" radar. Cat lovers will especially enjoy the book, but non-cat lovers can also appreciate its charming approach to the subject. My four cats give it sixteen paws up. I give it two thumbs!



5. This is a very funny yet extremely informative book with great illustrations about solar power using cats as examples. Very enjoyable!

2 comments about Laser-Tissue Interactions: Fundamentals and Applications (Biological and Medical Physics, Biomedical Engineering).

1. This book provides a concise review of laser-tissue interaction. It begins by introducing a brief theoretical foundation in tissue optics and moves on to describing various interaction and ablation mechanisms. The chapters are very well organized, the materials are well presented, and equations are used only when necessary. A large chapter is dedicated to introducing various medical applications of lasers in different clinical fields. The materials in this book are very suitable for scientists, engineers, and physicians involved in biomedical optics. However, since the release of this book, significant progress has been made in this area, which requires the author to substantially update information and development in the next edition.



2. This is an excellent book for anyone working in this field. The book covers everything from the basic theory to the latest applications. Detailed descriptions of each type of interaction mechanism and detailed references on each type of application are given. The second edition has been completely revised and updated. Highest ratings by Prof. Berns and Prof. van Gemert in their own classes. A MUST for your book shelf.

No comments about Physics in the Arts (Complementary Science) (Complementary Science).

No comments about Exploring the Spectrum.

No comments about Light Years: An Exploration of Mankind's Enduring Fascination with Light.

4 comments about The Physics and Chemistry of Color, 2nd Edition.

1. The book goes through the causes of color in a very well organized manner. The author discusses incandescence, fluorescence, phosphorescence, ligand field theory and all other causes of color. It is written so that any reader with a bachelors degree in chemistry or physics could easily understand it. It contains very informative appendices. I highly recommend the book to science types who are interested in color and its causes.



2. Discusses a number of topics in a short and clear way. Of course more topics could be discussed and more in depth, but Nassau does a good job keeping the book small and pleasantly readable. After reading it you will have gained a fair insight in the diversity of colour generation. Photo's could be better.



3. Nassau succeeds in presenting a very readable treatment on the causes of color in natural and synthetic materials. He strikes a good balance between technical detail and ease of digestion, and leaves the more complex material for appendices.

   The volume is enlightening, informative, fairly complete and enjoyable reading, even for those casually interested in the subject.




4. What I like about this book is the relation between the practical and intuitive side of color (e.g. color perception, minerals, art preservation, everyday objects) and the scientific and technical side (e.g. electronics and vibrational interactions, classical and quantum physical phenomena, chemistry). The topics in this book tie loose ends of knowledge together and makes you go "Ahhhh! I guess I _knew_ that, but I was never able to tie them together before!". You're guaranteed to learn or relearn several new things every time you read the book. I have had several inquires about selling the book, but have always turned them down. This is one of the few books which inspire you to be curious about the world.

2 comments about Why the Sky Is Blue: Discovering the Color of Life.

1. This book could as easily have been titled "Is the Sky Blue?" And the answer to that is yes and no.
   Gotz Hoeppe, a German science journalist, points out that the sky near the horizon, if clear, is whitish not blue.
   So when a child asks her father, "Daddy, why is the sky blue?" one answer could be: Take a closer look.
   A longer, yet still incomplete, answer would be: Light from the sun hits viruses and molecules of gas in the atmosphere and is reflected as blue light. The sky itself -- mostly nitrogen and oxygen -- is colorless.
   Figuring this out took a long time. The Greeks about 2,500 years ago were the first to become dissatisfied with mythical answers, but although they put a lot of effort into proposing reasons, they did not know how to test them.
   Hoeppe traces the thinking of prescientific physicists through 2,000 years before getting to the period when real answers started to be found.
   "Why is the sky blue?" is a childish question but answering it was not child's play. The first clues began to be teased out 400 years ago, and the big breakthrough came with Isaac Newton's experiments showing that white light is composed of colors, including, of course, sky blue. Newton published "Opticks" in 1704.
   Some of his ideas were wrong, which began to be recognized about 50 years later. It took another hundred years to straighten most things out, but another 50 after that for Albert Einstein (and others) to explain the weird qualities of light.
   One of the interesting things about "Why the Sky is Blue" is that as a German, Hoeppe spreads credit for the development of physics farther east than most popular scientific histories in English do.
   He also presents a number of phenomena that readers can try out in their backyards.
   For example, the "blue hour." When the sun goes down, the sky stays blue for a while. The hue is almost, but not quite, the same in the blue hour as during bright daylight, but the mechanism for producing it is entirely unrelated.
   A careful look at the sky, with Hoeppe's guidance, will reveal a number of other curiosities that we tend to overlook.
   Unfortunately, Hoeppe's guidance goes awry in his summation, when he raises the alarm about what increased carbon dioxide is likely to mean for the blue sky.
   The answer, very likely, is nothing, thanks to clouds and other buffering effects, but -- astonishingly -- Hoeppe manages to write about greenhouse gases for two chapters without mentioning the most important one -- water vapor.
   It wouldn't hurt to skip Chapter 10.



2. If you have any penchant for physics and enjoy the human adventure that goes with it, then you will enjoy this book, perhaps as much as I have. The author takes us back in time, and places us in the minds of those early Greeks who could only speculate as to the cause behind the beautiful blue in the sky. It is remarkable just how far and to what great heights, literally, mankind has tried to tackle this topic. Hoeppe carries the reader along this marvelous adventure, and does so with a cogent style that makes even the more complicated points easy to grasp.
   
   Many other related subjects are addressed throughout the book that are handled in-depth and give us a view we are unlikely to find elsewhere. John W. Strutt's, Lord Rayleigh, original mechanical treatment for scattering is nicely explained, followed by a close look at his modern electromagnetic modification to it once Maxwell revealed light is an electromagnetic wave.
   
   I especially enjoyed learning of the Chappuis Effect - it might explain the purple color of our Moon during a lunar eclipse when volcanic activity has altered our atmosphere.
   
   With over 250 exoplanets discovered, and thousands more to come, this book will help us understand what we may someday behold when we actually obtain visible images of them. It already helps us understand what we see for the atmospheres of our neighboring planets. For instance, why the Martian sky is not blue and why the cloudless regions on Saturn are a rich sky blue color.

5 comments about Chasing the Sun: Solar Adventures Around the World.

1. Chasing the Sun is not only highly readable and entertaining; it is unique and deeply valuable. It is not about the machinery of solar energy, nor its hows and whys and whens. There are other books, easier to research, mostly harder to read, about these aspects. It is about the human dimension of solar energy, how people and their institutions collaborate or get in the way.
   
   It is unique because it is the memoir of a skilled journalist who put aside journalism to immerse himself purposefully in his subject; deeply valuable because the immersion lasted more than a decade. Importantly, it exposed the daunting political and institutional landscape that must be navigated to bring modern lighting and communications to the poorest regions of the world.
   
   It reminds of the Journal of Lewis and Clark. Theirs was a voyage of discovery. So was Williams'. Like Lewis and Clark, Williams had a mission, including a starting point and a goal, but no roadmaps or off-ramps. It was either move forward, or turn back; no riches or glory at journey's end, just a treasure beyond price, knowledge of the territory, its risks and its rewards, what works there and what doesn't; hopes and expectations betrayed and beautiful truths revealed.
   
   Our generation, Willams' and mine, expected its ideals to be shared and operative in the big world outside the small American heartland towns we grew up in. It turned out to be more complicated than that; the ideals came with a price. Williams leaves no doubt they were worth it. He learned that the poor that we tend to pity for not sharing our material wealth are mostly not dependent and miserable as we assume but rather resourceful and in some ways more credit-worthy than corporate America. They do need solar energy and they can and will in fact pay what it is worth to them.
   
   Who should read Chasing the Sun? Those in the ever-expanding global solar industry who have fought the good fight alongside Williams will find validation and encouragement. Those whose contributions are measured in meetings attended may be discomforted. But this is mainly a book for the rising generation. It is a reality book that belongs at the top of college course reading lists, because it speaks to the problems we are leaving to the next generation to solve for themselves and their children. It is a book of practical experience and an antidote to the notion that ideas and results are somehow magically connected. It speaks to the need to make things happen ourselves rather than assume our institutions are working on the problem. In his last chapter Williams addresses making things happen in the US. For many this will be the inspiration to make a difference.



2. First off, I am a solar industry wannabe. This book only heightens my interest in getting involved. It's pretty amazing to see what Mr. Williams has accomplished through his tireless drive to help thousands of people and villages get electricity. This is a great book by someone that seems to know how to cut through red tape and just get things done. He takes some jabs at big government run programs, MBA's, and some various large institutions that seem to get too caught up in theory and do not actually get anything done. It sounds like this criticism is well founded. Mr. Williams has been successful in creating numerous solar businesses around the globe. There are some great stories on him being the first white man to ever visit some villages. Hearing the stories from different villagers tell how their lives have changed since purchasing a solar system is truly inspiring. Not a technical book by anymeans (a nice change from most solar books), Chasing the Sun focuses more on how to make solar panels more commonplace and helping people while creating a successful "for profit" business. He is now trying to figure out how to replicate this in the US. That should make a great book too.



3. This book is fun to read - it outlines the history of photovoltaics, the history of international development of photovoltaics, and the exciting history of the Solar Electric Light Fund. If you're interested in photovoltaics, and/or international development, this is THE resource of all resources - what works, what doesn't...



4. In purchasing this book I was hoping to glean some useful information about the specifics of getting solar energy to those who have no other options. Instead I got 300 pages of the author name-dropping and telling me how great and successful he is. He makes it sound like he is solely responsible for all solar power in all developing nations. There are limited specifics regarding solar power (the author himself admits he knows little about the actual technology involved), and I finished reading still not knowing how to get involved in this industry (apparently the only way to do so is to be good friends with all the rich and powerful businessmen and politicians like he is). That said there is some useful historical information on the industry, it is a recent book with up to date statistics, and thus it may prove to be a decent reference book in a limited way. The final chapter is good, as it discusses the current state of energy policy in the U.S.



5. Great guide to a business starter, I love this book because the author really separates fiction from facts in it. The book is based on real life adventures which bring out the inspirational and convincing side in writing. It is an interesting book because it gives a lot of easy-to-understand details on renewable energy and good lesson on perseverance. Once you read the first chapter, you are eager to go on to the next one.
   I would recommend it to anyone who wants to start a business and lack motivation or someone who wants to learn some more on renewable energy.