The optics of life
Subtitle: a biologist's guide to light in nature
By: Sönke Johnsen
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Princeton, NJ
Language: eng
Number of pages: 336
ISBN-13: 9780691139906; 9780691139913
Subjects: Optical Phenomena; Physiological optics; Polarization (Light); Photobiology; Light
Description: "Optics--a field of physics focusing on the study of light--is also central to many areas of biology, including vision, ecology, botany, animal behavior, neurobiology, and molecular biology. The Optics of Life introduces the fundamentals of optics to biologists and nonphysicists, giving them the tools they need to successfully incorporate optical measurements and principles into their research. S©œnke Johnsen starts with the basics, describing the properties of light and the units and geometry of measurement. He then explores how light is created and propagates and how it interacts with matter, covering topics such as absorption, scattering, fluorescence, and polarization. Johnsen also provides a tutorial on how to measure light as well as an informative discussion of quantum mechanics. The Optics of Life features a host of examples drawn from nature and everyday life, and several appendixes that offer further practical guidance for researchers. This concise book uses a minimum of equations and jargon, explaining the basic physics of light in a succinct and lively manner. It is the essential primer for working biologists and for anyone seeking an accessible introduction to optics"--Provided by publisher.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [307]-318) and index.