****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
An applied mathematician by trade (with additional training in electrical engineering), I purchased this book to fill in background information on general optics in order to prepare me to read background material and scientific papers in nonlinear optics, a subject in which I am just beginning to undertake research. My familiarity with basic optics is limited to what I learned in 100-level physics many years ago--in other words, I know essentially nothing. The book really does deliver on the promise on the backcover that all that is needed is some "advanced mathematics (beyond calculus)" and "an intermediate course in electricity and magnetism."I found this book incredibly nice to read, with concise explanations that contain the proper amount of detail for both veteran readers and complete newbies (such as myself). The author doesn't bog the reader down with equations and long derivations, but he explains clearly how one step leads to another, allowing the reader to quickly fill in the details of the derivations, a perfect compromise for all audiences: those new to the field can learn by doing, yet with the proper guidance to prevent the process from being too frustrating, and experienced readers needing a refresher can merely read the results. Figures are well-placed and especially helpful, and notation is clear and not needlessly complicating.I highly recommend this book. Its value can't be denied; however, I'm certain that the book would compare favorably with other books costing several times more.
