Physics Book Review - Learn More About Light and Holography

There is more to light that meets the eye, but it is exactly that which meets the eye which intrigues us the most. Welcome to the science of holography, spectral imaging, and holographic projection. If this topic and subject interests you as much as it does me, then I’d like to recommend an extremely informational book on the topic. The title of the book is:

“Principles of Holography” by Howard W. Smith, published by Wiley- Interscience, New York, NY, 1969, 239 pages, Library of Congress Number: 69-16129, SBN: 471-08340-2.

The author of this book was a senior research assist at the research laboratories for Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester New York, and his R & D department were on the leading edge of this technology back then. As you know the Eastman Kodak company was quite serious about innovation and they had put forth billions of dollars to hold their market share back in the day. At the time this book was written, it was probably one of the most comprehensive books on the topic of holography.

Today, of course there is so much more to know, but many of the basics are here, and this is a good book to start if you wish to learn about this topic. If you want to learn about the history of holography it’s all here also. Likewise, all the mathematics that go along with holographic image projection and holography is here also. The book describes the basic arrangements for holography including plane holograms and volume holograms, along with the general theory for each.

There are lots of mathematical equations for the projection of light, Temporal Filters, linear motion, and oscillatory object motion imaging. You will learn about how to illuminate with the beam, and what happens when you adjust the bandwidth, or the recording medium. There is also an analysis of third order aberrations, and the book even gets into Lasers.

Indeed, I’ve read quite a number books on holography, and I’ve even written a book on the topic titled “Holographic Projection Technologies of the Future – Killer Applications” and so I know a thing or two about the topic. I can tell you this is probably one of the best books ever written on the subject, and to think that it was written in 1969 just completely blows me away. I therefore recommended it to anyone who is serious about the research in spectral imaging or holographic technology.

Everyone should be interested in this topic because within the next five years your iPad, iPhone, smart phone, or tablet computer will allow videoconferencing by way of holograms. That technology will soon be here, and many of the world’s largest companies are right now bringing that technology to the forefront. They are designing chips which will allow this type of communication, and the equipment to run it. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and take it seriously. If you have any comments, concerns, and/or questions or case studies please shoot me an e-mail as soon as possible.

Physics Book Review - Learn More About Light and Holography