The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature
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. Sönke 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.

1100870440
The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature
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. Sönke 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.

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The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature

The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature

by Sönke Johnsen
The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature

The Optics of Life: A Biologist's Guide to Light in Nature

by Sönke Johnsen

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$63.00 
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Overview

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. Sönke 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.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9780691139913
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Publication date: 12/25/2011
Pages: 368
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Sönke Johnsen is associate professor of biology at Duke University.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Chapter One Introduction 1

Chapter Two Units and Geometry 8

Chapter Three Emission 31

Chapter Four Absorption 75

Chapter Five Scattering 116

Chapter Six Scattering with Interference 151

Chapter Seven Fluorescence 181

Chapter Eight Polarization 203

Chapter Nine Measuring Light 237

Chapter Ten What Is Light, Really? 271

Appendix A Converting Spectral Irradiance to Lux 287

Appendix B Calculating the Absorbance Spectrum of a Visual Pigment 290

Appendix C Refractive Indices of Common Substances 292

Appendix D Optical Properties of Very Clear Water 293

Appendix E Optical Properties of Natural Waters 295

Appendix F Useful Formulas 297

Appendix G Equipment and Software Suppliers 302

Bibliography 307

Index 319

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book provides just about everything one needs to know about biological optics, from the nature of light and its transmission to intensity, color, and polarization properties and their consequences. It is informal yet detailed, and will be easily accessible to anyone interested in biological optics, environmental optics, and animal or human vision. I highly recommend it."—John A. Endler, professor of sensory ecology and evolution, Deakin University

"The Optics of Life provides a user-friendly introduction to the physics and measurement of light. From plant physiologists working on photosynthesis to visual scientists stimulating eyes with light, many biologists will benefit greatly from the wisdom and insight provided in this book. The Optics of Life is a major contribution to the field, and will no doubt become a classic."—Eric Warrant, Lund University, Sweden

"This is a gem of a book. It's the one I wish I had when I was starting out in photoecology—it would have saved me a lot of pain. The style is very entertaining and the material is wonderfully practical and down-to-earth. Every biologist should read it."—Edith A. Widder, CEO and senior scientist, Ocean Research and Conservation Association

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