- Email: [email protected]
Long-wavelength infra-red
Some of the material will be very useful but if he had used the available space better the result would have been first class. It is unlikely that this book will persuade university students to seek a career in making optical instruments, as the author hopes. However, they certainly won’t be able to afford to buy the book, so perhaps it doesn’t matter. W.T. Welford
Modern utilization of infrared technology, civil and military Edited by I. J. Spiro Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, Proceedings, Volume 62, 1975, pp 302, $35.00 The rapid expansion of infra-red technology in the field of imaging has arisen from military requirements for nightviewing equipment and from the development of multispectral mappers in earth resource satellites. Both of these uses demand equipment that can operate reliably over long periods in a wide range of climatic conditions. Within the limits of military and commercial security, a good idea of what is going on can be gathered from the 36 papers presented at a SPIE Seminar in August 1975 and published in these proceedings. Although the title is broad, more than half the papers are devoted to some aspect of infra-red imaging. Sessions are devoted to systems, applications, pyro-electric detectors, and thermal imaging systems. The allocation of papers to the first two sessions is somewhat arbitrary, but taken together they include papers which cover detector mosaics, charge coupled devices, space borne infrared measurements, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and optical heterodyne techniques. The session on pyro-electric detectors shows the remarkable progress that this detector has made in recent years. With its uncooled operation and broad spectral response, it has found applications as a point detector for radiometry and pulsed laser measurements, in linear arrays for thermal scanners, and as the pyro-electric vidicon. There are papers covering all these applications. Of special interest is the use for radiometry, as the detector may be calibrated directly by electrical heating of the sensing element. Absolute radiometry can be achieved in this way without the use of external blackbody sources for calibration. (National Bureau of Standards, Boulder). The pyro-electric vidicon is beginning to be a practical device, but the fact that it responds only to a changing radiation pattern means that some artifice, such as chopping or panning, is necessary to obtain a normal picture. There is a detailed study of its characteristics and modes of operation, with many references, which concludes with some impressive pictures using an image difference technique. The scene is chopped in synchronism with the frame scan. Pictures of alternate polarity result and the difference of consecutive frames (using an analogue store) cancels unwanted charge patterns (Naval Weapons Center, China Lake). The session on thermal imaging systems is concerned mainly with complete equipment. It includes a survey of single detector infrared scanners, high resolution systems for micro-circuit inspection, multiple detector systems, and
238
two hand-held thermal viewers. There is also a survey of systems for airborne line-scan imagery. Some of these papers are plainly advertisements for hardware, although none the worse for that. Basically intended for design and systems engineers in the aerospace industry, the papers vary a good deal in depth of treatment so that there is something for anyone interested in the present state of development of infra-red techniques. Several papers also try to look ahead. Since each paper stands on its own there is inevitably some repetition of introductory material. There is much useful background information in two authoritative reviews: ‘Fundamentals of infrared’ by George J. Zissis and ‘Limitations on the performance of passive infrared sensors’ by John A. Jamieson. The latter shows the trade-offs between angular field of view, waveband, and observation time. It introduces many equations and symbols, but the analysis is kept on the ground with a symbol for cost index, realistically defined as the square-root of the product of clear aperture area and the number of detectors. The SPIE are to be commended on publishing within a few months of the seminar. Diagrams and figures have been well reproduced. The binding seems reasonably strong, although only paper covered, Because there is more in these proceedings than any one reader will need they would probably present best value as a library purchase. W.R. Bradford
Long-wavelength infra-red Edited by W. 1. Wolfe Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Proceedings, Volume 67, 1975, $35.00
Engineers,
Whether a book represents good value for money must depend on its worth to the reader. Presumably there are far infra-red addicts who will be prepared to pay 34 dollars for 114 pages of conference proceedings, but the sales to individuals will, I suspect, be quite small. This is a pity because, despite some drawbacks, this volume contains both valuable and fascinating information. For example, on pages 30 and 3 1 there are graphs of the transmission of various materials in the 300-1000 Brn region. A few of these: ‘/4in plywood has 2% transmission at 900 pm, a sheet of notepaper in an envelope transmits SO% and a ‘Pendleton’ wool shirt 90% at the same wavelength. 0.01 in of human blood passes 0.1% at 337 pm but the same thickness of water only 0.02%. Blood may be thicker than water but apparently not at 337 pm! Perhaps most surprisingly a copy of the Scientific American transmits more than 1% at 500 pm and, most intriguingly, a ‘blond’ wig 10v3% at 337 pm. (What about brunettes or red heads?) The authors of this paper from the Aerospace Corporation are considering the detection of concealed metal objects using far infrared imagery. The main drawback of reading these proceedings is that the papers are reproduced directly from the authors’ contributions and they appear in a wide variety of print sizes and shades on large sized (approximately A4) pages set in a soft plastic cover. The effect is off-putting and some
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY.
OCTOBER
1976
of the pages are quite difficult to read. On page 41 there are nearly 1000 words of closely spaced type and real concentration is required to read it at all. Again a pity, because it is an excellent review of long wavelength waveguide lasers by D.T. Hodges. This is only one of several papers in minute type. However, it is easy to be critical, and the editor and publishers have done an excellent job in getting this volume into print so quickly. The seminar was held at the end of August 1975. Apart from being the editor, W.L. Wolfe contributes two typically excellent papers. The second one, entitled ‘Coherent and non-coherent far infra-red calibration’, will be of immense value to all workers in this spectral region. Indeed, the more one
reads this volume the more useful it appears to be. Each reader will have his own preferences as to the usefulness of particular papers. I found a number which I will refer to for years to come. These include those by Back on design considerations for intermediate and far infra-red optics, by Shivananandan and his colleagues on long wavelength photoconductive detectors for infra-red astronomy, and by Stierwalt on the low temperature transmittance of materials. Professor J. Strong opens the proceedings with a paper on instrumentation written in his usual thoughtful elegant style. This book is expensive but it should be in the library of all institutions where far infrared research takes place. M. Kimmitt
Laser surgery I. Kaplan Jerusalem Academic Press, 1976, pp 247
New books Books listed below are those recently received by the editon’al office or those mentioned in advance information from the publishers. Their inclusion here does not prevent them from being reviewed in a 2ater issue.
Advances in image pickup and display (Volume 2) Edited by B. Kazan
Academic Press, 1976, pp 253,214.30
Optical fiber technology Edited by D. Gtoge
IEEE Press, 1976, pp 420 $19.95 Quantum electronics (Volume 1, Part A) C.L. Tang Academic Press, 1976, pp 472, E19.25 Edited by H. Rabin,
Vision and acquisition: Fundamentals of human visual performance, environmental influences and applications in instrumental optics I. Overington Pentech Press, 1976, pp 386, $14.00
Gasdynamic laser: An introduction J.D. Anderson, Jr.
Academic Press, 1976, pp 180, $17.50 Laser-induced fusion and x-ray laser studies Edited by: S. F. Jacobs, M. 0. Scully, M. Sargent, C. D. Can trell
Corrigenda
Addison Wesley Publishing Co Inc, 1976, pp 470 $27.50
Baues, P. ‘Gaussian beam parameter transformation at a refracting surface.’ B(2) (April 1976) 85-88
Laser photochemistry, tunable lasers, and other topics
Equation (24) was incorrect. The correct version appears below.
Edited by S. F. Jacobs, M. Sargent, M. 0. Scully, C. T. Walker
(24)
Addison Wesley Publishing Co Inc, 1976, pp 463, $23.50
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY.
OCTOBER
1976
239
Modern utilization of infrared technology, civil and military Edited by I. J. Spiro Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers, Proceedings, Volume 62, 1975, pp 302, $35.00 The rapid expansion of infra-red technology in the field of imaging has arisen from military requirements for nightviewing equipment and from the development of multispectral mappers in earth resource satellites. Both of these uses demand equipment that can operate reliably over long periods in a wide range of climatic conditions. Within the limits of military and commercial security, a good idea of what is going on can be gathered from the 36 papers presented at a SPIE Seminar in August 1975 and published in these proceedings. Although the title is broad, more than half the papers are devoted to some aspect of infra-red imaging. Sessions are devoted to systems, applications, pyro-electric detectors, and thermal imaging systems. The allocation of papers to the first two sessions is somewhat arbitrary, but taken together they include papers which cover detector mosaics, charge coupled devices, space borne infrared measurements, Fourier transform spectroscopy, and optical heterodyne techniques. The session on pyro-electric detectors shows the remarkable progress that this detector has made in recent years. With its uncooled operation and broad spectral response, it has found applications as a point detector for radiometry and pulsed laser measurements, in linear arrays for thermal scanners, and as the pyro-electric vidicon. There are papers covering all these applications. Of special interest is the use for radiometry, as the detector may be calibrated directly by electrical heating of the sensing element. Absolute radiometry can be achieved in this way without the use of external blackbody sources for calibration. (National Bureau of Standards, Boulder). The pyro-electric vidicon is beginning to be a practical device, but the fact that it responds only to a changing radiation pattern means that some artifice, such as chopping or panning, is necessary to obtain a normal picture. There is a detailed study of its characteristics and modes of operation, with many references, which concludes with some impressive pictures using an image difference technique. The scene is chopped in synchronism with the frame scan. Pictures of alternate polarity result and the difference of consecutive frames (using an analogue store) cancels unwanted charge patterns (Naval Weapons Center, China Lake). The session on thermal imaging systems is concerned mainly with complete equipment. It includes a survey of single detector infrared scanners, high resolution systems for micro-circuit inspection, multiple detector systems, and
238
two hand-held thermal viewers. There is also a survey of systems for airborne line-scan imagery. Some of these papers are plainly advertisements for hardware, although none the worse for that. Basically intended for design and systems engineers in the aerospace industry, the papers vary a good deal in depth of treatment so that there is something for anyone interested in the present state of development of infra-red techniques. Several papers also try to look ahead. Since each paper stands on its own there is inevitably some repetition of introductory material. There is much useful background information in two authoritative reviews: ‘Fundamentals of infrared’ by George J. Zissis and ‘Limitations on the performance of passive infrared sensors’ by John A. Jamieson. The latter shows the trade-offs between angular field of view, waveband, and observation time. It introduces many equations and symbols, but the analysis is kept on the ground with a symbol for cost index, realistically defined as the square-root of the product of clear aperture area and the number of detectors. The SPIE are to be commended on publishing within a few months of the seminar. Diagrams and figures have been well reproduced. The binding seems reasonably strong, although only paper covered, Because there is more in these proceedings than any one reader will need they would probably present best value as a library purchase. W.R. Bradford
Long-wavelength infra-red Edited by W. 1. Wolfe Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Proceedings, Volume 67, 1975, $35.00
Engineers,
Whether a book represents good value for money must depend on its worth to the reader. Presumably there are far infra-red addicts who will be prepared to pay 34 dollars for 114 pages of conference proceedings, but the sales to individuals will, I suspect, be quite small. This is a pity because, despite some drawbacks, this volume contains both valuable and fascinating information. For example, on pages 30 and 3 1 there are graphs of the transmission of various materials in the 300-1000 Brn region. A few of these: ‘/4in plywood has 2% transmission at 900 pm, a sheet of notepaper in an envelope transmits SO% and a ‘Pendleton’ wool shirt 90% at the same wavelength. 0.01 in of human blood passes 0.1% at 337 pm but the same thickness of water only 0.02%. Blood may be thicker than water but apparently not at 337 pm! Perhaps most surprisingly a copy of the Scientific American transmits more than 1% at 500 pm and, most intriguingly, a ‘blond’ wig 10v3% at 337 pm. (What about brunettes or red heads?) The authors of this paper from the Aerospace Corporation are considering the detection of concealed metal objects using far infrared imagery. The main drawback of reading these proceedings is that the papers are reproduced directly from the authors’ contributions and they appear in a wide variety of print sizes and shades on large sized (approximately A4) pages set in a soft plastic cover. The effect is off-putting and some
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY.
OCTOBER
1976
of the pages are quite difficult to read. On page 41 there are nearly 1000 words of closely spaced type and real concentration is required to read it at all. Again a pity, because it is an excellent review of long wavelength waveguide lasers by D.T. Hodges. This is only one of several papers in minute type. However, it is easy to be critical, and the editor and publishers have done an excellent job in getting this volume into print so quickly. The seminar was held at the end of August 1975. Apart from being the editor, W.L. Wolfe contributes two typically excellent papers. The second one, entitled ‘Coherent and non-coherent far infra-red calibration’, will be of immense value to all workers in this spectral region. Indeed, the more one
reads this volume the more useful it appears to be. Each reader will have his own preferences as to the usefulness of particular papers. I found a number which I will refer to for years to come. These include those by Back on design considerations for intermediate and far infra-red optics, by Shivananandan and his colleagues on long wavelength photoconductive detectors for infra-red astronomy, and by Stierwalt on the low temperature transmittance of materials. Professor J. Strong opens the proceedings with a paper on instrumentation written in his usual thoughtful elegant style. This book is expensive but it should be in the library of all institutions where far infrared research takes place. M. Kimmitt
Laser surgery I. Kaplan Jerusalem Academic Press, 1976, pp 247
New books Books listed below are those recently received by the editon’al office or those mentioned in advance information from the publishers. Their inclusion here does not prevent them from being reviewed in a 2ater issue.
Advances in image pickup and display (Volume 2) Edited by B. Kazan
Academic Press, 1976, pp 253,214.30
Optical fiber technology Edited by D. Gtoge
IEEE Press, 1976, pp 420 $19.95 Quantum electronics (Volume 1, Part A) C.L. Tang Academic Press, 1976, pp 472, E19.25 Edited by H. Rabin,
Vision and acquisition: Fundamentals of human visual performance, environmental influences and applications in instrumental optics I. Overington Pentech Press, 1976, pp 386, $14.00
Gasdynamic laser: An introduction J.D. Anderson, Jr.
Academic Press, 1976, pp 180, $17.50 Laser-induced fusion and x-ray laser studies Edited by: S. F. Jacobs, M. 0. Scully, M. Sargent, C. D. Can trell
Corrigenda
Addison Wesley Publishing Co Inc, 1976, pp 470 $27.50
Baues, P. ‘Gaussian beam parameter transformation at a refracting surface.’ B(2) (April 1976) 85-88
Laser photochemistry, tunable lasers, and other topics
Equation (24) was incorrect. The correct version appears below.
Edited by S. F. Jacobs, M. Sargent, M. 0. Scully, C. T. Walker
(24)
Addison Wesley Publishing Co Inc, 1976, pp 463, $23.50
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY.
OCTOBER
1976
239