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New directions in atomic physics
Books Laser applications
(Volume
1)
edited by M. Ross Academic
Press, 1971,
pp 308,
f 7.45
Laser technology is still in its youth after ten years of continuing rapid expansion. Thus, the preparation of a book on laser applications, attempting to compile the latest information, is no light task. This book is the first in a ‘new series . .. .. designed to fill the existing gap between laser research and development and their practical application’. Sensibly, contributions by different authors, each an authority on his own topic, have been combined. Five topics are covered:- Holograph; by B. J. Thompson; Metrology and geodesy by J. C. Owens; Laser gyros by F. Aronowitz; Machining and welding by L. A. Weaver: and Communications by M. Ross. Each is based on work carried out in the USA. There are some exclusions from this list, but the preface promises future volumes which will include medical uses, environmental monitoring, recording and display, and radar and tracking systems. The five chapters are intended only as basic review articles, for ‘the professional engineer and scientist .. .. . interested in concepts, techniques, and data rather than detailed mathematical treatments’.
instruments based on the Michelson interferometer and is particularly thorough. There are also sections on alignment, modulated-light methods for geodesy, and velocity measurement by Doppler methods. The third chapter presents quite a contrast. Whereas holography and metrology both encompass several distinct topics, the laser gyro is an individual topic yet is allocated a chapter equal in length to the others. Consequently, the treatment goes considerably deeper, with detailed and mathematical descriptions of error sources, lock-in compensation, and laser theory, catering more for the specialist reader. ‘Machining and welding applications’ devotes more description than other chapters to the lasers themselves, including gas and solid-state lasers. In describing the mechanisms by which laser beams process various materials, Weaver supplies a fair amount of performance data, though little information on techniques such as beam manipulation. Lastly, ‘Laser communications’ considers two basic systems: heterodyning and direct detection (intensity modulation). There are sections describing the advantages and desirable characteristics of laser systems, signal and noise considerations, modulation, detection, and space systems, with good discussion of the principles throughout. The emphasis is on air and space transmission; only passing reference is made to optical pipe systems.
In ‘Applications of holography’, emphasis is given to microscopy and particle analysis - hardly surprising as this is Thompson’s own field. Quite rightly, priority also goes to holographic interferometry, though an occasional mistake has crept in. For example, a well-known fringe pattern of motor tyre deformation is shown which, according to the text, represents inflation by 50 p.s.i. His article also covers data storage and retrieval, microcircuit manufacture, pulsed laser photography, filtering, aberration correction, contour generation and interference microscopy. However. these topics are scantily described, exemplifying the problem of reviewing tlic applications of holography in a mere 60 pages.
Overall, the information is up-to-date (at publication time), and indicates on which laser applications the emphasis of American effort is being placed. While I found individual chapters to be self-contained and clearly presented, the indexing and co-ordination could be considerably improved. Generally. the information on the chosen topics is useful but limited, concentrating on principles.
Owens’ chapter on metrology and geodesy is str-ong on technical explanation relating laser properties to the principles of measurement. The section on interferometry is confined to
However, each chapter is well referenced. Therefore, the specialist reader will probably find the book inadequate for detailed content, but valuable as a source of references.
At &7.45 it will be a worthwhile acquisition for libraries and teams engaged on laser applications. D. Denby
New directions in atomic physics edited by E. U. Condon, 0. Sinanoglu Yale University Press, 1972. Volume 1: pp 250, E 12.50; volume 2: pp 163, 57.50
Both optics and atomic physics have seen a strong revival of interest in the last decade and it is not surprising to find in a book covering new developments in atomic physics, material of interest to those whose field is essentially optics. The material is found in two chapters amounting to 64 pages in Volume 2. The subject matter is The Principles of Optical Pumping and is written by A. Kastler of the Ecole Normale Superieure. University of Paris. Chapter 1 covers non-thermal distributions in atomic states and is centred on the Brossel-Bitter double resonance experiment and on nonthermal distribution obtained by electron impact. In the second chapter the restoration of thermal equilibrium by magnetic resonance is considered. The presentation is concise but is not for those unfamiliar with the subject - it is written for research workers in the field and the references are almost entirely to French publications. H. G. Jerrard
Erratum The word not was omitted in the authors’ typescript of the paper ‘Holographic interferometry of impact-loaded objects using a doublepulse laser’ by J. W. C. Gates. R. G. N. Hall and I. N. Ross (April 1972, p. 73). Line 1 of the first paragraph on that page should read ‘Fig. 2 shows a spinning fan, the blade of which is ll~t normal to the line bisecting the illuminating and viewing directions’.
Optics and Laser Technology
December
1972
297
(Volume
1)
edited by M. Ross Academic
Press, 1971,
pp 308,
f 7.45
Laser technology is still in its youth after ten years of continuing rapid expansion. Thus, the preparation of a book on laser applications, attempting to compile the latest information, is no light task. This book is the first in a ‘new series . .. .. designed to fill the existing gap between laser research and development and their practical application’. Sensibly, contributions by different authors, each an authority on his own topic, have been combined. Five topics are covered:- Holograph; by B. J. Thompson; Metrology and geodesy by J. C. Owens; Laser gyros by F. Aronowitz; Machining and welding by L. A. Weaver: and Communications by M. Ross. Each is based on work carried out in the USA. There are some exclusions from this list, but the preface promises future volumes which will include medical uses, environmental monitoring, recording and display, and radar and tracking systems. The five chapters are intended only as basic review articles, for ‘the professional engineer and scientist .. .. . interested in concepts, techniques, and data rather than detailed mathematical treatments’.
instruments based on the Michelson interferometer and is particularly thorough. There are also sections on alignment, modulated-light methods for geodesy, and velocity measurement by Doppler methods. The third chapter presents quite a contrast. Whereas holography and metrology both encompass several distinct topics, the laser gyro is an individual topic yet is allocated a chapter equal in length to the others. Consequently, the treatment goes considerably deeper, with detailed and mathematical descriptions of error sources, lock-in compensation, and laser theory, catering more for the specialist reader. ‘Machining and welding applications’ devotes more description than other chapters to the lasers themselves, including gas and solid-state lasers. In describing the mechanisms by which laser beams process various materials, Weaver supplies a fair amount of performance data, though little information on techniques such as beam manipulation. Lastly, ‘Laser communications’ considers two basic systems: heterodyning and direct detection (intensity modulation). There are sections describing the advantages and desirable characteristics of laser systems, signal and noise considerations, modulation, detection, and space systems, with good discussion of the principles throughout. The emphasis is on air and space transmission; only passing reference is made to optical pipe systems.
In ‘Applications of holography’, emphasis is given to microscopy and particle analysis - hardly surprising as this is Thompson’s own field. Quite rightly, priority also goes to holographic interferometry, though an occasional mistake has crept in. For example, a well-known fringe pattern of motor tyre deformation is shown which, according to the text, represents inflation by 50 p.s.i. His article also covers data storage and retrieval, microcircuit manufacture, pulsed laser photography, filtering, aberration correction, contour generation and interference microscopy. However. these topics are scantily described, exemplifying the problem of reviewing tlic applications of holography in a mere 60 pages.
Overall, the information is up-to-date (at publication time), and indicates on which laser applications the emphasis of American effort is being placed. While I found individual chapters to be self-contained and clearly presented, the indexing and co-ordination could be considerably improved. Generally. the information on the chosen topics is useful but limited, concentrating on principles.
Owens’ chapter on metrology and geodesy is str-ong on technical explanation relating laser properties to the principles of measurement. The section on interferometry is confined to
However, each chapter is well referenced. Therefore, the specialist reader will probably find the book inadequate for detailed content, but valuable as a source of references.
At &7.45 it will be a worthwhile acquisition for libraries and teams engaged on laser applications. D. Denby
New directions in atomic physics edited by E. U. Condon, 0. Sinanoglu Yale University Press, 1972. Volume 1: pp 250, E 12.50; volume 2: pp 163, 57.50
Both optics and atomic physics have seen a strong revival of interest in the last decade and it is not surprising to find in a book covering new developments in atomic physics, material of interest to those whose field is essentially optics. The material is found in two chapters amounting to 64 pages in Volume 2. The subject matter is The Principles of Optical Pumping and is written by A. Kastler of the Ecole Normale Superieure. University of Paris. Chapter 1 covers non-thermal distributions in atomic states and is centred on the Brossel-Bitter double resonance experiment and on nonthermal distribution obtained by electron impact. In the second chapter the restoration of thermal equilibrium by magnetic resonance is considered. The presentation is concise but is not for those unfamiliar with the subject - it is written for research workers in the field and the references are almost entirely to French publications. H. G. Jerrard
Erratum The word not was omitted in the authors’ typescript of the paper ‘Holographic interferometry of impact-loaded objects using a doublepulse laser’ by J. W. C. Gates. R. G. N. Hall and I. N. Ross (April 1972, p. 73). Line 1 of the first paragraph on that page should read ‘Fig. 2 shows a spinning fan, the blade of which is ll~t normal to the line bisecting the illuminating and viewing directions’.
Optics and Laser Technology
December
1972
297