An introduction to modern optics

A. K. Ghatak
Tata McGraw-Hill, 19’71,368 pp
This book written for undergraduate students is supposedly
a new approach to the study of optics and purports to
include a number of recent developments. Books such as
this invariably include chapters on waves, interference,
diffraction, polarization and some elements of electro-
magnetic theory. The book under review is no exception.
The other chapters cover coherence, holography, the
particle nature of radiation and quantum behaviour of
photons. Despite its claims it omits much that is part of, or
an introduction to, modern optics.
The first chapter on waves presents nothing new - it is
fairly comprehensive but is not exciting. Complex repre-
sentation is not used. The second chapter with the title
“Huygens’ Principle and geometrical optics” does not rise
above A level standard. Geometrical optics has never been
a popular subject but there is sufficient renewed interest in
it by those involved in such modern developments as laser
cavity design, electron optics, crystal optics and focusing of
nuclear particles to justify more attention than that given
by the author. Optical aberration theory is important, the
optical transfer function is used in lens design and geo-
metrical optics provides an ideal introduction to matrix
algebra techniques which are now finding increasing use in
optics. No mention of these is given. The electro-magnetic
character of light and polarization are the subject matter of
Chapter 3. The reader will find it difficult, if not impossible,
to see the progress made in polarized light. Crystal optics is
ignored and electro-optics, a field in which there is much
activity has hardly been touched upon. Prism polarizers
are not mentioned. The opportunity to introduce a modern
description of polarized light using the Stokes vector is
missed. Chapter 4 on interference is conventional. The
theories of division of wavefront and of amplitude are
given; Newton’s rings and the Michelson interferometer
are described. Chapter 5 deals with coherence and is clear
but there is no mention of optical coherence theory. The
chapter on diffraction covers much a student should know
but it would benefit by the inclusion of ideas on image
formation, on spatial filtering and Fourier transforms.
Holography is treated in a satisfactory but brief manner; it
stops at the fundamentals. In Chapter 8 accounts are given
of the photo-electric effect, the Compton effect and wave-
particle duality. The last chapter covers the splitting of
photons, concentrates on interference phenomena and the
photon hypothesis and ends with the uncertainty principle.
The book ends with seven appendices. These appear to be
used as a means to introduce material which has been
forgotten in the main body of the text. The laser is
covered in one of these.
Viewed as a whole the material is sound enough but the
book is neither a modern introduction to optics nor a good
introduction to modern optics. The subject matter is useful
for undergraduates; it tends towards simplicity, which is
always desirable, and which for many is absolutely necessary
It is not likely to provide new ideas for lecturers but a large
number of problems are given and each chapter contains
worked solutions to examples.
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Optics and Laser Technology August 1972 193