Optics. A decent primer.

[mophead]

I didn't pay attention in most of the physics classes i've had. Really don't have a lot of ideas/knowledge about optics.

Would someone please recommend either a good site, book, e-book, i don't care.... something. I wouldn't mind reading a good textbook for that matter.

I would like to learn about things like collimation, both up and down along with what lenses do what and assoicated calculations. Maybe something with ray diagrams. I understand telescopes but how would shining 50 LOC reds down the end of it.........what would come out the eyepiece type thing? See where I'm headed?

Just a good basic to early intermediate is what i'm looking for.

I appreciate any help.

d.

[mixedgas]

Oh, hard one, Picking a optics book for a friend is like trying to tell him whom he should marry, then handcuffing him to her for life after just one date.


Google Books preview these before you buy, books are expensive, and I'd hate to see you get something you don't like or doesnt meet your needs. Please....

" And All the Science, I don't Understand..." Elton John.



50 red simulated laser beams: It has a demo mode, and if you spend a week playing, don't blame me, But not a book:

http://members.ozemail.com.au/~imesoft/


Your probably better off with a used college text like
"Modern Technical Physics" then a lot of optics texts, unless your really into math and geometry. Besides MTP comes with a nice cover picture of two honking Spectras and a dude you know from here.

Hecht and Zajac - Optics

The classic, but loaded with math.

Introduction to Modern Optics, Grant R. Fowles.

mix of math, but good explanations. handles modern stuff like dichros.


O'Shea, Elements of Modern Optical Design

Nice combination of simple and complex math, you can pick out what you need. Probably my favorite


Optics and Optical Instruments

By B. K. Johnson
But it is oh so 1950s, very little modern stuff, but damn useful for microscopes, telescopes, collimators, eye glasses, polarization, gratings etc. This book was invented before the laser.



Basic Optics and Optical Instruments, US NAVY.

All else fails, ask Uncle.... Probably very cheap if not for free on line. Ignore the line about spending most of your time in the optics shop Swabbing Decks... Go to chapter two.



For lasers, both using them and designing them:THE ONE THAT ROCKS! :

Laser Fundamentals


by William T. Silfvast (Author) Quote: "There is nothing magical about a laser.."

By the guy that invented the hecad. Probably the best overall text on lasers and their design, but understandable and not the heavy math. You can caculate how to build a hene , or anything else from this book, with high school algebra. Doesn't really cover lenses etc.




here: if you can decipher Graphical Ray Tracing, , its free:

http://www.anchoroptics.com/documents/

I got work to do,

Steve

[Ed Wesly]

Here are a couple of books that I would use in my Optics for Artists classes I teach at the School of the Art Instittute of Chicago and Harrington College of Design. I don't use them as they are over $100 new, but there are some on Amazon for $60 to 80.

Seeing the Light: Optics in Nature, Photography, Color, Vision, and Holography by David R. Falk, Dieter R. Brill, and David G. Stork (Hardcover - Nov 1, 1986)

Light Science: Physics and the Visual Arts (Undergraduate Texts in Contemporary Physics) by Thomas D. Rossing and Christopher J Chiaverina (Hardcover - Sep 24, 1999)

Edmund Scientific a long time ago had a series of little books on a variety of topics, including collimation,with Popular Optics by Sam Brown a compilation of a bunch of articles. However someone wants 99 smackers for a copy that cost $12 when new!

For free check out the laser light and collimation sections from Melles Griot, either on-line or in one of their hard copy catalogs.

Hope that helps!

[mixedgas]

Edmund Scientific a long time ago had a series of little books on a variety of topics, including collimation,with Popular Optics by Sam Brown a compilation of a bunch of articles. However someone wants 99 smackers for a copy that cost $12 when new!
end quote

Some of those are on line for free at Anchor Optics


http://www.anchoroptics.com/documents/

[LASERGUY]

I have a book here right in front of me that is very easy to read and dives into many facets of optics.. Primarily camera\imager design but many extra chapers on gaussian beam propagation and such. I highly recommend this book.
And I believe there are other books in the series..

Optical Systems Design
Robert E. Fischer / Biljana Tadic-Galeb
SPIE Press - McGraw-hill

[GooeyGus]

"There is nothing magical about a laser.."

I call bullshit...


I have a pretty 'ok' grasp on this whole laser thing... but sometimes I just need to allow myself to think that there is just a little bit of sorcery involved in some of these machines, so I dont feel entirely stupid

[SilentShaddow]

I didn't pay attention in most of the physics classes i've had. Really don't have a lot of ideas/knowledge about optics.

How much did you pay attention in Maths??

[mophead]

Thanks for the input everyone. I appreciate it. A Lot.

SS: I paid pretty good attention in math. Anything after the most basic intergral and i'm lost though. My calculus is very^3 rusty.

[Stuka]

Edmunds is offering a free "Optics Made Easy" guide on their downloads page:

http://www.edmundoptics.com/US/downloads/