Optical Properties of Solids

by Mark Fox

The second edition of this successful textbook provides an up-to-date account of the optical physics of solid state materials. The basic principles of absorption, reflection, luminescence, and light scattering are covered for a wide range of materials, including insulators, semiconductors and metals. The text starts with a review of classical optics, and then moves on to the treatment of optical transition rates by quantum theory. In addition to the traditional discussion of crystalline materials, glasses and molecular solids are also covered.

The first edition included a number of subjects that are not normally covered in standard texts, notably semiconductor quantum wells, molecular materials, vibronic solid state lasers, and nonlinear optics. The basic structure of the second edition is unchanged, but all of the chapters have been updated and improved. Futhermore, a number of important new topics have been added,

DT Optical control of spin
DT Quantum dots
DT Plasmonics
DT Negative refraction
DT Carbon nanostructures (graphene, nanotubes and fullerenes)
DT NV centres in diamond

The text is aimed at final year undergraduates, masters students and researchers. It is mainly written for physicists, but might also be useful for electrical engineers, materials scientists and physical chemists. The topics are written in a clear tutorial style with worked examples, chapter summaries and exercises.

To request a copy of the Solutions Manual,

Genres: Physics, Science

416 pages, Hardcover

First published January 17, 2001

Reviews

[Philip · Rating 2 out of 5]

Structured well and has a good level of detail, but low rating overall because the author makes very little effort to define any of his variables and notation, meaning that many of the more complex theoretical and mathematical parts are basically worthless - much better to consult other texts.