Author: Stephen R. Wilk
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197518605
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Why are candle flames yellow? Why does ultraviolet light supposedly kill vampires? What about the monocle? Why was the monocle--a corrective lens that only corrects vision in a single eye--so popular among businessmen and politicians for so many years? Stephen R. Wilk answers all this and so much more in Sandbows and Black Lights. This book is a collection of original essays on weird and unusual topics surrounding optics. Wilk uses the BBC's formula of "Education by Stealth" to explain unusual facets of science and technology through the matrix of interesting and cultural paths, all the while weaving in math equations in an accessible way. The first part of the book focuses on the history, the second moves to odd scientific approaches to visual phenomena, and the third part explains the unique use of optics in fiction, movies, and comic books over time. Chapters cover everything from endless corridors to the beam of light over treasure chests in movies. Whether he is explaining a rare discovery or answering a seemingly unapproachable question, Wilk is able to lure readers in on every page. He has a unique ability to turn complex science into an engaging story, and this book is full of narratives on esoteric topics anyone will find intriguing. Sandbows and Black Lights provides an enticing and entertaining look at physical illusions in a whole new way.
Sandbows and Black Lights
Author: Stephen R. Wilk
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197518605
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Why are candle flames yellow? Why does ultraviolet light supposedly kill vampires? What about the monocle? Why was the monocle--a corrective lens that only corrects vision in a single eye--so popular among businessmen and politicians for so many years? Stephen R. Wilk answers all this and so much more in Sandbows and Black Lights. This book is a collection of original essays on weird and unusual topics surrounding optics. Wilk uses the BBC's formula of "Education by Stealth" to explain unusual facets of science and technology through the matrix of interesting and cultural paths, all the while weaving in math equations in an accessible way. The first part of the book focuses on the history, the second moves to odd scientific approaches to visual phenomena, and the third part explains the unique use of optics in fiction, movies, and comic books over time. Chapters cover everything from endless corridors to the beam of light over treasure chests in movies. Whether he is explaining a rare discovery or answering a seemingly unapproachable question, Wilk is able to lure readers in on every page. He has a unique ability to turn complex science into an engaging story, and this book is full of narratives on esoteric topics anyone will find intriguing. Sandbows and Black Lights provides an enticing and entertaining look at physical illusions in a whole new way.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197518605
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 192
Book Description
Why are candle flames yellow? Why does ultraviolet light supposedly kill vampires? What about the monocle? Why was the monocle--a corrective lens that only corrects vision in a single eye--so popular among businessmen and politicians for so many years? Stephen R. Wilk answers all this and so much more in Sandbows and Black Lights. This book is a collection of original essays on weird and unusual topics surrounding optics. Wilk uses the BBC's formula of "Education by Stealth" to explain unusual facets of science and technology through the matrix of interesting and cultural paths, all the while weaving in math equations in an accessible way. The first part of the book focuses on the history, the second moves to odd scientific approaches to visual phenomena, and the third part explains the unique use of optics in fiction, movies, and comic books over time. Chapters cover everything from endless corridors to the beam of light over treasure chests in movies. Whether he is explaining a rare discovery or answering a seemingly unapproachable question, Wilk is able to lure readers in on every page. He has a unique ability to turn complex science into an engaging story, and this book is full of narratives on esoteric topics anyone will find intriguing. Sandbows and Black Lights provides an enticing and entertaining look at physical illusions in a whole new way.
Optically Polarized Atoms
Author: Marcis Auzinsh
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191576549
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 400
Book Description
This book is addressed to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students involved in research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. It will also be useful to researchers practising in this field. It gives an intuitive, yet sufficiently detailed and rigorous introduction to light-atom interactions with a particular emphasis on the symmetry aspects of the interaction, especially those associated with the angular momentum of atoms and light. The book will enable readers to carry out practical calculations on their own, and is richly illustrated with examples drawn from current research topics, such as resonant nonlinear magneto-opticals. The book comes with a software package for a variety of atomic-physics calculations and further interactive examples that is freely downloadable from the book's web page, as well as additional materials (such as power-point presentations) available to instructors who adopt the text for their courses.
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 0191576549
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 400
Book Description
This book is addressed to upper-level undergraduate and graduate students involved in research in atomic, molecular, and optical physics. It will also be useful to researchers practising in this field. It gives an intuitive, yet sufficiently detailed and rigorous introduction to light-atom interactions with a particular emphasis on the symmetry aspects of the interaction, especially those associated with the angular momentum of atoms and light. The book will enable readers to carry out practical calculations on their own, and is richly illustrated with examples drawn from current research topics, such as resonant nonlinear magneto-opticals. The book comes with a software package for a variety of atomic-physics calculations and further interactive examples that is freely downloadable from the book's web page, as well as additional materials (such as power-point presentations) available to instructors who adopt the text for their courses.
Sandbows and Black Lights
Author: Stephen R. Wilk
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197518575
Category : Optics
Languages : en
Pages : 217
Book Description
"In the almost twenty years since I began writing my essays on strange and quirky optics I have been through several employers, but in all that time I have stayed a contributing editor for the Optical Society of America. No matter where I was during the day, I always worked on producing these nuggets of infotainment with some regularity. I have always had a backlog of tentative pieces to write, but new topics arose just as rapidly, so I have never been at a loss with a new piece. The newsletter of MIT's Spectroscopy Lab has, in that time, disappeared, so the essays in this volume are either ones that originally appeared in Optics and Photonics News, or else have not previously been published in any magazine. As I stated in the introduction to How the Ray Gun Got Its Zap!, my goal was to produce quirky, interesting, and somewhat humorous essays that had a slyly pedagogical edge. "Education by stealth," as the BBC said. In reality, I often start off writing one of these to satisfy myself about some minor mystery of optical science or engineering"--
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0197518575
Category : Optics
Languages : en
Pages : 217
Book Description
"In the almost twenty years since I began writing my essays on strange and quirky optics I have been through several employers, but in all that time I have stayed a contributing editor for the Optical Society of America. No matter where I was during the day, I always worked on producing these nuggets of infotainment with some regularity. I have always had a backlog of tentative pieces to write, but new topics arose just as rapidly, so I have never been at a loss with a new piece. The newsletter of MIT's Spectroscopy Lab has, in that time, disappeared, so the essays in this volume are either ones that originally appeared in Optics and Photonics News, or else have not previously been published in any magazine. As I stated in the introduction to How the Ray Gun Got Its Zap!, my goal was to produce quirky, interesting, and somewhat humorous essays that had a slyly pedagogical edge. "Education by stealth," as the BBC said. In reality, I often start off writing one of these to satisfy myself about some minor mystery of optical science or engineering"--
How the Ray Gun Got Its Zap
Author: Stephen R. Wilk
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199948011
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
A collection of engaging essays that discusses odd and unusual topics in optics
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199948011
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 272
Book Description
A collection of engaging essays that discusses odd and unusual topics in optics
Light
Author: Ian A. Walmsley
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199682690
Category : Light
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
Introduces readers to the basic properties of light -reflection and refraction, polarization, and interference- before moving on to how light is generated, its role in relativity, and quantum effects it exhibits.
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN: 0199682690
Category : Light
Languages : en
Pages : 152
Book Description
Introduces readers to the basic properties of light -reflection and refraction, polarization, and interference- before moving on to how light is generated, its role in relativity, and quantum effects it exhibits.
The Story of Semiconductors
Author: John W. Orton
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 019156544X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 528
Book Description
The book provides an overview of the fascinating spectrum of semiconductor physics, devices and applications, presented from a historical perspective. It covers the development of the subject from its inception in the early nineteenth century to the recent millennium. Written in a lively, informal style, it emphasizes the interaction between pure scientific push and commercial pull, on the one hand, and between basic physics, materials, and devices, on the other. It also sets the various device developments in the context of systems requirements and explains how such developments met wide ranging consumer demands. It is written so as to appeal to students at all levels in physics, electrical engineering, and materials science, to teachers, lecturers, and professionals working in the field, as well as to a non-specialist scientific readership.
Publisher: OUP Oxford
ISBN: 019156544X
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 528
Book Description
The book provides an overview of the fascinating spectrum of semiconductor physics, devices and applications, presented from a historical perspective. It covers the development of the subject from its inception in the early nineteenth century to the recent millennium. Written in a lively, informal style, it emphasizes the interaction between pure scientific push and commercial pull, on the one hand, and between basic physics, materials, and devices, on the other. It also sets the various device developments in the context of systems requirements and explains how such developments met wide ranging consumer demands. It is written so as to appeal to students at all levels in physics, electrical engineering, and materials science, to teachers, lecturers, and professionals working in the field, as well as to a non-specialist scientific readership.
Ultracold Atoms in Optical Lattices
Author: Maciej Lewenstein
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199573123
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 494
Book Description
This book explores the physics of atoms frozen to ultralow temperatures and trapped in periodic light structures. It introduces the reader to the spectacular progress achieved on the field of ultracold gases and describes present and future challenges in condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and quantum computation.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199573123
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 494
Book Description
This book explores the physics of atoms frozen to ultralow temperatures and trapped in periodic light structures. It introduces the reader to the spectacular progress achieved on the field of ultracold gases and describes present and future challenges in condensed matter physics, high energy physics, and quantum computation.
The Photomultiplier Handbook
Author: A. G. Wright
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199565090
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 639
Book Description
"Photomultipliers are extremely sensitive light detectors with the capability to detect single photons. In multiplying the charge produced by incident light by up to 100 million times, these devices are essential to a wide range of applications, from medical instrumentation to astronomical observations. This complete and authoritative guide will provide...a deeper understanding of the operating principles of these devices." -- Publisher's description, back cover.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0199565090
Category : Business & Economics
Languages : en
Pages : 639
Book Description
"Photomultipliers are extremely sensitive light detectors with the capability to detect single photons. In multiplying the charge produced by incident light by up to 100 million times, these devices are essential to a wide range of applications, from medical instrumentation to astronomical observations. This complete and authoritative guide will provide...a deeper understanding of the operating principles of these devices." -- Publisher's description, back cover.
Medusa
Author: Stephen R. Wilk
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019988773X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
Medusa, the Gorgon, who turns those who gaze upon her to stone, is one of the most popular and enduring figures of Greek mythology. Long after many other figures from Greek myth have been forgotten, she continues to live in popular culture. In this fascinating study of the legend of Medusa, Stephen R. Wilk begins by refamiliarizing readers with the story through ancient authors and classical artwork, then looks at the interpretations that have been given of the meaning of the myth through the years. A new and original interpretation of the myth is offered, based upon astronomical phenomena. The use of the gorgoneion, the Face of the Gorgon, on shields and on roofing tiles is examined in light of parallels from around the world, and a unique interpretation of the reality behind the gorgoneion is suggested. Finally, the history of the Gorgon since tlassical times is explored, culminating in the modern use of Medusa as a symbol of Female Rage and Female Creativity.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 019988773X
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 288
Book Description
Medusa, the Gorgon, who turns those who gaze upon her to stone, is one of the most popular and enduring figures of Greek mythology. Long after many other figures from Greek myth have been forgotten, she continues to live in popular culture. In this fascinating study of the legend of Medusa, Stephen R. Wilk begins by refamiliarizing readers with the story through ancient authors and classical artwork, then looks at the interpretations that have been given of the meaning of the myth through the years. A new and original interpretation of the myth is offered, based upon astronomical phenomena. The use of the gorgoneion, the Face of the Gorgon, on shields and on roofing tiles is examined in light of parallels from around the world, and a unique interpretation of the reality behind the gorgoneion is suggested. Finally, the history of the Gorgon since tlassical times is explored, culminating in the modern use of Medusa as a symbol of Female Rage and Female Creativity.
The Theory of Critical Phenomena
Author: J. J. Binney
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191660566
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 477
Book Description
The successful calculation of critical exponents for continuous phase transitions is one of the main achievements of theoretical physics over the last quarter-century. This was achieved through the use of scaling and field-theoretic techniques which have since become standard equipment in many areas of physics, especially quantum field theory. This book provides a thorough introduction to these techniques. Continuous phase transitions are introduced, then the necessary statistical mechanics is summarized, followed by standard models, some exact solutions and techniques for numerical simulations. The real-space renormalization group and mean-field theory are then explained and illustrated. The final chapters cover the Landau-Ginzburg model, from physical motivation, through diagrammatic perturbation theory and renormalization to the renormalization group and the calculation of critical exponents above and below the critical temperature.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
ISBN: 0191660566
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 477
Book Description
The successful calculation of critical exponents for continuous phase transitions is one of the main achievements of theoretical physics over the last quarter-century. This was achieved through the use of scaling and field-theoretic techniques which have since become standard equipment in many areas of physics, especially quantum field theory. This book provides a thorough introduction to these techniques. Continuous phase transitions are introduced, then the necessary statistical mechanics is summarized, followed by standard models, some exact solutions and techniques for numerical simulations. The real-space renormalization group and mean-field theory are then explained and illustrated. The final chapters cover the Landau-Ginzburg model, from physical motivation, through diagrammatic perturbation theory and renormalization to the renormalization group and the calculation of critical exponents above and below the critical temperature.