Abstract

This book is for those who have some knowledge of optics, but little or no previous experience in interferometry. Accordingly, the carefully designed presentation helps readers easily find and assimilate the interferometric techniques they need for precision measurements. Mathematics is held to a minimum, and the topics covered are also summarized in capsule overviews at the beginning and end of each chapter. Each chapter also contains a set of worked problems that give a feel for numbers.
The first five chapters present a clear tutorial review of fundamentals. Chapters six and seven discuss the types of lasers and photodetectors used in interferometry. The next eight chapters describe key applications of interferometry: measurements of length, optical testing, studies of refractive index fields, interference microscopy, holographic and speckle interferometry, interferometric sensors, interference spectroscopy, and Fourier-transform spectroscopy. The final chapter offers suggestions on choosing and setting up an interferometer.
"It is refreshing to read a book which includes the word 'basic' in the title, and which actually succeeds in keeping to the basics of the subject. Hariharan has written a book which is an excellent introduction to interferometry of all sorts, and he has resisted the temptation to go into great detail. As a result, the book is very readable, very clear and easy to follow....I think the book would form an excellent introduction to interferometry for anyone with a basic physics background. It is well presented...is easy to read and achieves its purpose."
--CONTEMPORARY PHYSICS
"I can recommend this excellent book as a wide ranging and thorough introduction to interferometry....[it[ is extremely well presented...and very readable."
--MEASUREMENT SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY
"This book is well written and it is a pleasure to read. It is the ideal book to be used as a text for an introductory course in interferometry, since it includes almost any topic, including holographic and speckle interferometry and Fourier-transform spectroscopy....Anyone interested in optics or precision measurements will find this book useful and interesting."
--OPTICS AND PHOTONICS NEWS