Best Physics of Light Books of 2025

The AFOQT Study Guide: Air Force Officer Qualifying Test Prep Book (2023-2024) is a comprehensive guide by experienced educators at Military Prep Academy that covers every section of the Air Force Officer Qualifying Test. The book includes over 300 practice test questions and a detailed answer guide that explains how to arrive at the correct answer. Exam Success 2.0, a section of the book, provides expert tips and strategies to help readers maximize their test preparation and do their best on test day. This study guide is an excellent resource for anyone planning on taking the AFOQT.

Einstein: The Man and His Mind is a stunning visual biography that provides readers with an intimate look into the life of the iconic physicist. The book features fifty-one original photographic images of Einstein, along with rare letters, manuscripts, books, and journals that offer insight into his contributions to modern physics. The book is a treasure trove of unexpected facts about Einstein, and it's a volume worth holding, reading, viewing, and relishing. Overall, this book is a captivating depiction of Einstein that's adorned with arresting photography, making it a unique and remarkable addition to any bookshelf.

This book is a comprehensive guide to Time-Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) and its applications, methods, and instrumentation. It covers topics such as confocal detection, fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM), and Förster Resonant Energy Transfer (FRET) for life science applications. The book also discusses photon detectors, lasers, and TCSPC electronics. The chapters are written by experts in the field and provide a detailed overview of the technology and its applications. Although the book is highly specialized, it could be useful for researchers developing new photon counting techniques, physicists, chemists, and those working in the life sciences. Overall, it is a valuable reference for anyone interested in TCSPC and its applications.

Polarized Light and Optical Systems is a comprehensive reference for undergraduate and graduate students in optical engineering. The book, developed and refined over a decade and a half at the University of Arizona's College of Optical Sciences, presents polarization optics in a way that makes classroom teaching relevant to current issues in the field. It covers Jones calculus, Mueller calculus, and the polarization ray tracing calculus, as well as the sources of polarization aberrations in optical systems. This book is an excellent resource for optical engineers, designers, and applied scientists.

Fundamentals of Photonics, 2 Volume Set (Wiley Series in Pure and Applied Optics) is a comprehensive, up-to-date textbook that provides a detailed account of the primary theories of light and their applications in engineering and applied physics. The book covers a range of topics including ray optics, wave optics, electromagnetic optics, photon optics, and optical fiber communications. Each chapter contains highlighted equations, exercises, problems, summaries, and selected reading lists. The third edition features an entirely new chapter on the optics of metals and plasmonic devices. The book is a valuable resource for students and professionals in the field of photonics.

Bioinspired Photonics: Optical Structures and Systems Inspired by Nature is an interdisciplinary introduction to photonic systems in nature and how they inspire the development of new photonic materials and devices. The author presents examples of biological systems and describes their unique features, interweaving discussions on fabricating synthetic versions of these systems. Suitable for a multidisciplinary audience, this book covers a wide range of topics encompassed by bioinspired photonics in an easy-to-follow way. The book is well-organized, well-written, and insightful, making it a wonderful source of inspiration for future bioinspired photonics.

Art & Physics: Parallel Visions in Space, Time, and Light by Leonard Shlain is an intriguing exploration of the correlation between art and science. The author showcases how artists have foreshadowed scientific discoveries throughout history, from the Greek sculptors to modern-day artists like Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns. Shlain's writing is solidly researched and gracefully presented, making this a fascinating read for non-specialists. The book's seamless integration of art and science creates a thought-provoking narrative that is both engaging and original. Overall, Art & Physics is a brilliant and visionary look at the most revolutionary artists and scientists, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the intersection of art and science.

Near-Earth Laser Communications, Second Edition is a comprehensive reference for those interested in the theory and applications of laser communication technology. The book covers the basic concepts and cutting-edge technologies of the field, along with their limitations and potential future developments. Written by Hamid Hemmati, an Engineering Director at Facebook Inc and former NASA scientist, this updated edition includes technology updates on nearly all chapters. Overall, this book is a valuable resource for anyone looking to gain a deeper understanding of near-Earth laser communication technology.

STOP! READ THIS FIRST: This is not just a book for $79.95! This is a complete training course for laser engraving and is the most comprehensive guide to laser engraving ever written for the awards and personalization industries. It is ideal for anyone who has recently purchased a laser engraver or is looking to purchase one to start a laser engraving business. Written by a 28 year veteran of laser engraving, shop owner, writer and instructor who currently runs CO2 and Fiber lasers on a daily basis, he has incorporated in this book as much knowledge and experience as possible including tons of color photographs, layouts and product ideas. In a single volume, here is everything you need to know to select, install and run a laser engraver. All major brands are included as well as glass tube lasers, metal tube CO2 lasers and fiber lasers. Also included is a complete discussion of the various materials that can be lasered, their sources, advantages and limitations. A list of wholesale suppliers and educational sources are also included. FREE with purchase is online access to his original LASER ENGRAVING DVD (a $59.95 value), CorelDraw instructional videos and more! The author writes monthly articles about laser engraving and related topics for the trade magazine, the Engravers Journal. This book includes recommendations for buying a laser engraver including the features and options available, so you can make the right buying decision. If you already have a laser engraver, there are hundreds of ideas for expanding your engraving business including resources available. Whether you plan to start a home-based business, a storefront or just engrave for fun, this is intended to be your most valuable resource. Because it contains information about all the various materials you can laser engraver and how to do it, what to avoid and shortcuts to make it easier, you will want to keep the 240+ jam-packed pages of information and ideas next to your engraver. Materials included in the manual include wood, acrylic, plastics, leather, metal, films, Rhinestoning, fabric, and many more. This manual includes various projects to help the beginner learn about their laser and how to use the settings, options and features to make money. It also provides basic information about setting up a shop, either in a home or storefront, including the types of chemicals and other products that might be needed to perform all the various applications of laser engraving. Included are notations that apply to either CO2, Fiber Lasers or Glass Tube Lasers along with the advantages and disadvantages of each. Also included is a discussion of gantry vs. Galvo style lasers and the advantages of each.

This reprint volume with commentaries offers a comprehensive look at the revolutionary impact of laser trapping and manipulation of neutral particles using radiation pressure forces. The techniques discussed apply to a variety of small particles, including living cells and organelles, and have transformed the fields of atomic and molecular physics, biophysics, and nanotechnology. The author, a discoverer of optical trapping and tweezers, offers unique insights into the many applications of these optical methods, from high precision atomic clocks to the study of the mechanical properties of motor molecules. Overall, this book is an essential resource for anyone interested in the cutting-edge science of laser trapping and manipulation.