Basics of Holography | List Price: $69.00
Discount Price: $29.99
|
Binding: Paperback
Good first book on holography [Posted on 2006-07-01]
This book is intended as an introduction to the subject for science and engineering students as well as people with a scientific background who would like to learn more about holography and its applications. A comprehensive bibliography and references to original papers identify sources of additional information.Numerical problems and their solutions are provided at the end of each chapter to clarify the principles discussed and give the reader a feel for the numerical aspects of each topic.
Chapters 1 through 3 review image formation by a hologram, the characteristics of the reconstructed image, and the basic types of holograms while the next three chapters discuss available light sources, the characteristics of hologram recording media, and practical recording materials. Chapters 7 through 9 describe methods for the production of different types of holograms for displays, including multicolor holograms, and methods for making copies of holograms, as well as a chapter decribing the production of computer-generated holograms. The next two chapters review some of the most important technical applications of holography, such as high-resolution imaging, holographic optical elements, and holographic information storage and processing. The final three chapters of the book describe the techniques of holographic interferometry, including the application of digital electronic techniques to holographic interferometry.
Unfortunately, trying to describe a 3D process in the 2D pages of a book is a challenge - one that Hariharan does not always successfully face. Thus this book reads a little like the voice-over on a TV science documentary. One expects the narrative to be accompanied by dynamic footage demonstrating the process being described. Because there is no such footage, and because the illustrations that do appear in the book are sparse and not particularly compelling, it feels as though the text is not quite getting its message across.
The author assumes that the reader already has a fairly extensive background in wave optics, using, without first defining, such terms as "dichromatic", "Bragg diffraction", "Pockels cells", and even "photoresist". He includes four appendices that try to address deficits that readers may have in wave optics and Fourier transforms, but it seems naïve to believe that someone without much prior knowledge in these areas can pick up everything needed to understand the book in a few two-page supplements. Also, the exercises at the end of each chapter mainly involve plugging numbers into formulae, and are therefore not very illuminating.
In spite of its several shortcomings, this book is extremely comprehensive, well-researched and informative. It is possible to read the 155-page text in a matter of hours for a general overview of holography, but you could devote a month to studying it in detail in order to gain a deep understanding of the material. I still think it is the best of the serious introductions to holography for scientists and engineers, given the lack of competition in this niche.
Click here for more details and discount information...
|
){kind=link}