Introduction

Summary

The common threads that run through this book are the classical phenomena of diffraction, interference, and polarization. Although the reader is expected to be generally familiar with these electromagnetic phenomena, the book does cover some of the principles of classical optics in the early chapters. The basic ideas of diffraction and Fourier optics are introduced in chapters 1 through 4; this introduction is followed by a detailed discussion of spatial and temporal coherence and of partial polarization in chapters 5 through 8. These concepts are then used throughout the book to explain phenomena that are either of technological import or significant in their own right as natural occurrences that deserve attention.

Each chapter is concerned with a single topic (e.g., surface plasmons, diffraction gratings, evanescent coupling, photolithography) and attempts to develop an understanding of this subject through the use of pictures, examples, numerical simulations, and logical argument. The reader already familiar with a particular topic is likely to learn more about its applications, to appreciate better the physics behind some of the formulas he or she may have previously encountered, and perhaps even learn a thing or two about the nuances of the subject. For the reader who is new to the field, our presentation is aimed to provide an introduction, an intuitive feel for the physical and/or technological issues involved, and, hopefully, motivation for digging deeper by consulting the cited references.