Optics For Dummies

Optics For Dummies®

by Galen Duree, Jr., PhD

Optics For Dummies®

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc.111 River St.Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774

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Copyright © 2011 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana

Published simultaneously in Canada

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Library of Congress Control Number: 2011930303

ISBN: 978-1-118-01723-4

Manufactured in the United States of America

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About the Author

Galen Duree, Jr., earned his PhD in physics, working on numerous laser systems and optical phenomena at the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville. He is presently a professor of physics and optical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana. He is also the current director for the Center for Applied Optics Studies, which brings student teams together with companies looking for optical solutions. He runs the Ultrashort Pulse Laser Laboratory at Rose-Hulman, providing research opportunities to students of all disciplines at all levels (yes, even freshmen!) in many different areas.

Duree has worked with and for the Navy in the areas of high-energy laser systems, night vision, electro-optics, and ultrashort pulse laser applications. He has also worked with EG&G Technical Services in Crane, Indiana, in the areas of electro-optics and night vision systems. He currently consults with the Navy and SAIC, Inc., on high-power laser systems and ultrashort pulse laser applications.

When not working with students on research projects in optics, Duree loves spending time outside with his kids, working in the gardens, and working on his beloved 1979 Celica GT that still takes him to and from campus.

About the Contributors

Doug Davis is a licensed professional engineer working in the aerospace industry and as a consultant in his spare time.

Andrew Zimmerman Jones is the Physics Guide for About.com. He's studied and written about physics since 1993. Andrew holds a Physics degree from Wabash College with honors and awards, and he's the author of String Theory For Dummies.

Dedication

To my wonderful parents, Galen Sr. and Leslie Duree, for always supporting my inquisitive nature and helping me learn more about this wonderful world we live in.

This book is also dedicated to all those who have ever wondered if there is anything more to optics than eyeglasses and telescopes.

Author's Acknowledgments

This book is the result of many people's efforts, and I wish to thank them all. First, to all the students at Northwest Nazarene College and Rose-Hulman who have endured my lectures and asked a zillion questions over the years as I learned how to teach. I thank my acquisitions editor, Erin Calligan Mooney, and my project editor, Alissa Schwipps, for their patience and help in making this book possible. I also want to thank Andrew Zimmerman Jones and Douglas Davis for helping me with some elements as I started to run into a major time crunch. They have done a nice job, and I appreciate their input.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to thank my wonderful wife, Amber. By putting up with my discussions of picoseconds and explanations of things that probably only a physicist could appreciate over these many years, she helped me improve my understanding of things as well as refined my explanation of them. Without her initial and constant encouragement for writing this book and assistance with all the things going on at home and around home, this book would never have been written. I would like to thank my kids, Galen3, Catherine, and Annalisa for their patience as they had to put up with the "Not now! Dad needs to finish his book!" line far too many times. I would also like to thank Annalisa for being my Little Person Editor, making sure that I used the right words and put the commas in the right places.

Publisher's Acknowledgments

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Cover Photo: © iStockphoto.com/Henrik Jonsson

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Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies

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