What do you think?
Rate this book
Introduction to Fourier Optics
Fourier analysis is a ubiquitous tool that has found application to diverse areas of physics and engineering. This book deals with its applications in optics, and in particular with its applications to diffraction, imaging, optical data processing, holography and optical communications.
491 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1968
12 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
February 3, 2011
This is the classic introduction for senior undergrads and grad students to Fourier optics. I have a few critiques on the organization and content, but overall it's one of the best sources out there for learning the topic.
1) Too little focus is given to the angular spectrum treatment of diffraction and too much to the analysis of the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, in my opinion. From a practical standpoint, the angular spectrum is of much more use in the laboratory and for understanding optical setups.
2) The book seems to be divided in purpose; the first six chapters teach the foundations of Fourier Optics while the remaining chapters serve as a summary of what's been done within the literature. Readers might be better served by a book that focuses exclusively on the theory and concepts, especially since much of the later material (analog optical processing, film-based holography) is somewhat outdated and has found little use outside of very specific applications where digital image processing has failed to achieve success.
3) More treatment of coherence theory and Fourier techniques in light scattering would be appreciated.
Overall, though, the book is succinct, precise, and clear.
1) Too little focus is given to the angular spectrum treatment of diffraction and too much to the analysis of the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld diffraction integral, in my opinion. From a practical standpoint, the angular spectrum is of much more use in the laboratory and for understanding optical setups.
2) The book seems to be divided in purpose; the first six chapters teach the foundations of Fourier Optics while the remaining chapters serve as a summary of what's been done within the literature. Readers might be better served by a book that focuses exclusively on the theory and concepts, especially since much of the later material (analog optical processing, film-based holography) is somewhat outdated and has found little use outside of very specific applications where digital image processing has failed to achieve success.
3) More treatment of coherence theory and Fourier techniques in light scattering would be appreciated.
Overall, though, the book is succinct, precise, and clear.
December 11, 2022
Excellent introductory book that goes from Classical Maxwell equations and proceeds to scalar diffraction theory. It has many straightforward but informative problems that are good for self study. If you study optics, this is highly recommended.
December 25, 2021
Great for self study and a good reference for the fundamentals. Figures are well designed as well.
June 9, 2018
Good progression of topics. Great writing. Also great for self-teaching.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews