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In November 1957 in a flash of inspiration, Gould, a physicist, invented a new optical device. His notes took nine pages to write out and described what he called light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation -- or LASER. He invented two of the most important types, the optically pumped laser and the gas discharge laser. (He did it on paper; the first working laser was created in 1960 by Hughes Research Laboratories in California.) But when Gould took his ideas to the U.S. Patent Office, he was denied a patent. He fought back in court, and it took 30 years to fully win. He funded the court battle by signing away 80 percent of his rights to his invention. When he was granted his most important patent in 1987, the remaining 20 percent was enough to earn him around $30 million in royalties, due to the laser's wide use by then. "I knew from the beginning it was the most important thing I would ever get involved with," he once said. Which was a good thing: he had his 1957 write-up notarized when he finished it, helping him to prove he was first in not only inventing the laser, but also in naming it. Gould died September 16 from an infection. He was 85. From This is True for 18 September 2005 Suggestions for further reading:
 By: Bahaa E. A. SalehMalvin Carl Teich List Price: $148.50 Amazon Price: $118.80 Editorial Review: Now in a new full-color edition, Fundamentals of Photonics, Second Edition is a self-contained and up-to-date introductory-level textbook that thoroughly surveys this rapidly expanding area of engineering and applied physics. Featuring a logical blend of theory and applications, coverage includes detailed accounts of the primary theories of light, including ray optics, wave optics, electromagnetic optics, and photon optics, as well as the interaction of photons and atoms, and semiconductor optics. Presented at increasing levels of complexity, preliminary sections build toward more advanced topics, such as Fourier optics and holography, guided-wave and fiber optics, semiconductor sources and detectors, electro-optic and acousto-optic devices, nonlinear optical devices, optical interconnects and switches, and optical fiber communications. Each of the twenty-two chapters of the first edition has been thoroughly updated. The Second Edition also features entirely new chapters on photonic-crystal optics (including multilayer and periodic media, waveguides, holey fibers, and resonators) and ultrafast optics (including femtosecond optical pulses, ultrafast nonlinear optics, and optical solitons). The chapters on optical interconnects and switches and optical fiber communications have been completely rewritten to accommodate current technology. Each chapter contains summaries, highlighted equations, exercises, problems, and selected reading lists. Examples of real systems are included to emphasize the concepts governing applications of current interest.  By: Jr., Paul R. Yoder List Price: $159.95 Amazon Price: $115.16 Editorial Review: After nearly two decades, Paul Yoder's Opto-Mechanical Systems Design continues to be the reference of choice for professionals fusing optical and mechanical components into advanced, high-performance instruments. Yoder's authoritative systems-oriented coverage and down-to-earth approach fosters the deep-seated knowledge needed to continually push the field to new limits. Extensively revised and updated, this Third Edition reflects the massive growth and advancement achieved in the field over the past few years. It systematically examines the building blocks for new optical instruments and details new tools and techniques for designing, building, and testing optical systems hardware. The book includes revised, broad-based standards, equations for designing 26 types of prisms and lens, mirror, and prism mounts, state-of-the-art examples of designs for large mirrors and their mounts, and an expanded chapter that consolidates information on the design and mounting of metal mirrors. New sections include special protective coatings, manufacturing techniques, mounting lenses on flexures, and techniques for aligning lenses and lens systems in addition to two new chapters: one on designing and mounting small mirrors, gratings, and pellicles; the other, on analysis methods including damage and failure analysis. Whether you are designing a high-resolution projector or the most sensitive space telescope, Opto-Mechanical Systems Design, Third Edition supplies the tools you need in a single, concise reference.  By: Julio Chaves List Price: $139.95 Amazon Price: $139.95 Editorial Review: The world’s insatiable consumption of energy must be met with new technologies that offer alternative, environmentally conscious sources of light and power. The relatively young field of nonimaging optics is an ideal tool for designing optimized solar energy collectors and illumination optics and holds great promise in the development of solid state lighting applications. Introduction to Nonimaging Optics provides the first entry-level resource on this rapidly developing field. The book is divided into two sections: the first one deals with nonimaging optics—its main concepts and design methods. The second summarizes general concepts, including rays and wave fronts, reflection and refraction, and symmetry. The author makes a point to relate nonimaging to other popular fields, such as thermodynamics, radiometry, photometry radiation heat transfer and classical mechanics. He also provides useful examples at the end of each chapter. Introduction to Nonimaging optics invites newcomers to explore a growing field and delivers a comprehensive reference to those already working in optics, illumination engineering or solar energy collection and concentration.  By: L. AllenJ. H. Eberly List Price: $14.95 Amazon Price: $11.51 Editorial Review: A clear and comprehensive account of the basic principles involved in all quantum optical resonance phenomena, directed to graduate students and research physicists, and hailed in Contemporary Physics as "a valuable contribution to the literature of non-linear optics." 53 illustrations.  List Price: $169.00 Amazon Price: $135.20 Editorial Review: Photovoltaic solar-energy conversion is one of the most promising technologies for generating renewable energy, and conversion of concentrated sunlight can lead to reduced cost for solar electricity. In fact, photovoltaic conversion of concentrated sunlight insures an efficient and cost-effective sustainable power resource. This book gives an overview of all components, e.g. cells, concentrators, modules and systems, for systems of concentrator photovoltaics. The authors report on significant results related to design, technology, and applications, and also cover the fundamental physics and market considerations. Specific contributions include: theory and practice of sunlight concentrators; an overview of concentrator PV activities; a description of concentrator solar cells; design and technology of modules and systems; manufacturing aspects; and a market study. |
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