Did you decide today was the day you would skip lab because you had another test to study for or somewhere else to be? However, only to return to lab the next week to discover you missed two hours of slides that were going to be on the next exam? This book is your answer. It has the most accurate depictions of exactly what you missed. Biology majors this book is for you!

This is one of the best books I've found on the general subject of polarized light. I bought it because I wanted a ready desk reference that would put all I needed to know about the Jones and Muller calculus, along with the Poincare sphere, in one source. I also wanted a book that lists the Jones and Muller matrices for all sorts of idealized and real-world optical components. This book has it all, and more.

Chapter one is a quick review of the nature of light, with interesting historical information and a quick blurb on spectroscopy and an interesting table showing the types of atomic/nuclear transitions and the emission wavelength associated with each. This chapter is really just an extension of the preface.

Chapter two introduces the basic concepts of polarization in an electro-magnetic wave, including the equation of the electric field for elliptically polarized light, with extra emphasis on the two extremes (linear and circular polarization). Chapter two includes some useful pictorial examples of polarized light. The authors have been careful to define their terms well. They also have a rather lengthy footnote in chapter two that establishes their conventions for describing circularly polarized light. Also helpful is their inclusion of a list at the end of each chapter containing the mathematical symbols used in the chapter and their meanings.

Chapter three introduces common devices used to control polarized light, including linear polarizers made of dichroic as well as birefringent materials, and those constructed by such techniques as stacks of tilted glass plates. The chapter also introduces the concept of phase plates used to construct retarders, and gives useful physical information for materials commonly used in their construction. Artifacts due to retarders and polarizers are also discussed, along with a rather superficial discussion about depolarizers. The end of the chapter has a neat discussion about Haidinger's brushes and how you can use them to "cure" polarization blindness.

Chapter 4 is among the book's most useful. This chapter introduces the Jones Calculus, Mueller Calculus, and the Poincare sphere. This is the chapter in the book that I find myself returning to most often, along with appendix A (Jones and Stokes vectors of various forms of polarized light), and appendix B (Jones and Mueller matrices for various polarizing or polarization-sensitive optical components). Chapter 4 and appendixes A and B alone are sufficient justification for purchasing the book. The appendices, for example, are quite complete, listing matrices for everything from the general elliptical polarizer to the general elliptical retarder (there are 19 entries for Jones matrices alone).

The authors develop the Jones and Muller calculus in a manner that's easy to follow yet both rigorous and insightful. The book makes no apologies about the use of mathematics, and uses equations and derivations liberally. The level of mathematics is easy, however, being nothing more than linear algebra for the most part. There are also useful examples of how to use the Jones and Muller matrix methods to solve simple problems. The chapter introduces the Jones calculus first, then the Muller calculus, and finishes off with a good discussion and explanation of the Poincare sphere.

Chapter 5 covers the Jones and Muller calculus again, this time with more mathematical involvement and in greater detail. Chapter 5 also describes the Poincare sphere in more detail as well. Chapter 4 aims more at the initial introduction and relatively simple practical applications, while chapter 5 deals with such subjects as the analytical relationship between the coordinates of the Poincare sphere, the Stokes parameters, and the electric vector describing the light.

The first 5 chapters constitute the book's coverage of the general principles of polarization. The rest of the book deals with applied issues relating to polarization. For example, chapter 6 deals with the physics of spectroscopy and polarized light, chapter 7 deals with orientation and photoselection effects, and chapter 8 (the last chapter) covers polarized light in condensed phases.

I bought the book because I wanted a complete and authoritative reference for the general principles of polarization. I was especially looking for a text that succinctly yet accurately and completely introduced the mathematical concepts of the Jones and Muller calculus, and that provided a clear description of the Poincare sphere. Furthermore, I wanted a reference book that listed the transfer matrices (both in the Jones and Muller calculus) for a wide assortment of idealized and real-world optical components that interact with polarized light. The book has been everything I was looking for and is the best I've found on the subject.

If you work with or have an interest in polarized light and it's quantitative analysis, I highly recommend this book.

This edition of the Bible, Possibility Thinkers Bible, the New King James Version, was made available through the Sunday TV program by Robert Schuller who said that it contained the most beautiful English translation of the Bible available. Dr. Schuller was correct, in my view. This translation is quite beautiful and very easy to read. Previously I had read another translation in English which was frankly quite poorly and unevenly done. This New King James Version, Possibility Thinkers Bible, brought the Bible to life for me in everyday, beautiful English. My thanks go to the translators of the New King James Version. You did a wonderful job for the Lord God/Jesus Christ.

Protecting The American Homeland: A Preliminary Analysis is a methodical and highly serious account, collaboratively written by a team of Brooking scholars (Michael E. O'Hanlon; Peter R. Orszag; Ivo H. Daalder; I. M. Destler; David L. Gunter; Robert E. Litan; James B. Steinberg), laying out a four-tiered plan to support the efforts of the Bush administration and Congress to ensure America's security from terrorists... Offering suggestions such as increasing federal spending on homeland security to ... and then upgrading the authority of the director of the Office of Homeland Security rather than create a new superagency, Protecting The American Homeland is a well-thought out and welcome contribution to the current national dialogue as it offers an important perspective for our post-911 national security needs.

This is a fantastic sampling of Wolfe's work. Some parts I have re-read countless times. Wolfe is among the best writers we have. (And this book is nonfiction...which is why I'm glad his next book will be nonfiction).

After years of reading books that reference Christian writers like Clement and Bernard of Clairvaux, this Cliff Notes style booklet provided just what I needed -- an introduction to classic Christian references from the Didache to Billy Graham. It stimulated my interest enough to read Watchman Nee and Bonaventure, Andrew Murray and Sheldon. This has provided quite a boost to my devotional life and day-to-day fellowship with the Lord.

This debate about racism in America draws from a range of disciplines to consider the debates surrounding the sources of racism in America. Essays examine psychology, sociology, and social ideology alike, examining attitudes about government, economics and race alike. The result is an important examination which draws some needed links between attitude and politics.

here is a play that truly is a little miracle. the script is so honest and touching in a way that almost anyone can relate to. i just saw the production on broadway with jayne atkinson and woody harrelson and absolutely adored it. the whole cast has done wonders with these simple words that Nash has written. it was a delightful production and i urge everyone to read the script even if you cannot see a live production. you will love it!

Other reading text books are full of philosophies. The authors of this text, instead, provides you with tested procedures that allow you to step right into a classroom and see for yourself how it works. It is written with such description and detail that you can immediately implement the ideas into your classroom as well. A must read for beginning teachers and vetren teachers as well.

This book is the most condensed, accessible discussion of genetic manipulation techniques and methods around. Armed with this, one can move on and understand any other text in the area.