Photoelectron Statistics

With the recent great expansion in optics and laser applications, several new areas of research have emerged, among which are: the theory of coherence, photon statistics, speckle phenomenon, statistical optics, atmospheric propa gation, optical communications, and light-beating and photon-correlation spectroscopy. A factor common to these overlapping subjects is their basic dependence on the treatment of light as a randomly fluctuating excitation. Moreover, they all necessitate a thorough understanding of the phenomenon of light detection and the additional randomness it introduces. My objective in writing this book is to provide a unified and general presentation of a basic theoretical background central to these areas. This book has a threefold purpose: to present a systematic treatment of the statistical properties of optical fields, to develop methods for deter mining the statistics of the photoelectron events that are generated when such fields are intercepted by photodetectors, and to examine methods of estimating unknown field parameters from measurements of the photoelectron events. Emphasis is placed on the photoelectron measurements that yield in formation pertinent to spectroscopy and optical communication. Although some books that treat the theory of coherence and the statisti cal properties of light are available, the vast body of information central to problems of photoelectron statistics and its applications is scattered in various professional journals and conference proceedings.

This book provides an introduction to quantum optics for experimental physicists and for college students who have studied quantum mechanics. Its distinguishing feature is its emphasis on multimode fields with correlating different-frequency modes, notably on their phenomenological description and on the practical methods of generating them. The phenomena described in this book provide an opportunity to study nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics and to master many important concepts of theoretical physics.

Winner of the 2006 Joseph W. Goodman Book Writing Award! A comprehensive treatment of the principles, mathematics, and statistics of image science In today's visually oriented society, images play an important role in conveying messages. From seismic imaging to satellite images to medical images, our modern society would be lost without images to enhance our understanding of our health, our culture, and our world. Foundations of Image Science presents a comprehensive treatment of the principles, mathematics, and statistics needed to understand and evaluate imaging systems. The book is the first to provide a thorough treatment of the continuous-to-discrete, or CD, model of digital imaging. Foundations of Image Science emphasizes the need for meaningful, objective assessment of image quality and presents the necessary tools for this purpose. Approaching the subject within a well-defined theoretical and physical context, this landmark text presents the mathematical underpinnings of image science at a level that is accessible to graduate students and practitioners working with imaging systems, as well as well-motivated undergraduate students. Destined to become a standard text in the field, Foundations of Image Science covers: Mathematical Foundations: Examines the essential mathematical foundations of image science Image Formation–Models and Mechanisms: Presents a comprehensive and unified treatment of the mathematical and statistical principles of imaging, with an emphasis on digital imaging systems and the use of SVD methods Image Quality: Provides a systematic exposition of the methodology for objective or task-based assessment of image quality Applications: Presents detailed case studies of specific direct and indirect imaging systems and provides examples of how to apply the various mathematical tools covered in the book Appendices: Covers the prerequisite material necessary for understanding the material in the main text, including matrix algebra, complex variables, and the basics of probability theory

Images are ubiquitous. Their formation is one of natures universalities. Water droplets in suspension act in concert to produce rainbows. A partially filled wine glass can be made to form the image of a chandelier at aboring dinner party. The bottom of a water glass, too, can be made to produce an optical image, wildly distorted perhaps, but nevertheless recognizable as an optical image. Primitive folklore abounds with images. Perseus used his highly polished shield as a rear view mirror to lop off Medusa's head without turning hirnself into stone. Narcissus, displaying incrediblY poor taste, fell in love with his own reflection in a pool of water, causing poor Echo to pine away to a me re echo and providing yet another term for the psychoanalytic lexicon. Strepsiades, according to Aristophanes, proposed using a "burning stone" to melt a summons off the bailiff's wax tablet. And the castaways in Jules Vernes' MYsterious Is~nd made a burning glass by freezing water in a watch crystal. Everyone from the Baron Münchhausen to Tom Swift has gotten into the optics act with incredible but eminently useful optical devices. Indeed, Mother Nature herself has had a hand in evolving image-making de vices. Any reasonably symmetrie glob of transparent material, such as an ag gregate of cells, is capable of forming an image. It is not difficult to imag ine the specialization of such an aggregate into a blastula-like structure with an anterior window and light sensitive neurons at its posterior region.

Speech by Toyosaburo Taniguchi Welcome my friends to the Third International Symposium, Division on the Theory of Condensed Matter, of the Taniguchi Foundation. The need is now greater than ever for Japan to consider how to strengthen and foster international understanding between nations, peoples and societies, and how to contribute towards the establishment of peace and prosperity in the world. For more than twenty years, I have been supporting a symposium on mathe matics in which distinguished scholars from allover the world have engaged in free discussions. In this symposium, all the participants live together in community style. I have heard from members of some of these study groups that this type of setup has helped to strengthen their ties and relationships with their colleagues on a personal basis. What developed in the mathematics group led me to reorganize and strengthen the Taniguchi Foundation only a few years ago through additional funding. In order to effectively translate the objectives of the Foundation into action with the funds available, it becomes necessary to select those fields which are not necessarily in the limelight of popular interest, which means those fields which, I am afraid, are low in funding. I would rather choose from modest unimpressive academic fields than for the Foundation, projects those that stand out in gaudy, gorgeous popular acclaim.

”I re-experience once again the stimulating atmosphere of each of the ISQMs: There were theoretical discussions in diverse frontier areas of physics as well as descriptions of beautiful new (or planned) experiments and technologies. From each of the Symposia I always came away with the exciting feeling of how wonderful physics is and how lucky it is to be a physicist in this era.”Chen Ning YangThis volume is selected from the First through Fourth International Symposia on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics. The International Symposia on Foundations of Quantum Mechanics in the Light of New Technology (ISQMs) provide a unique interdisciplinary forum where distinguished theorists and experimentalists of diverse fields of research gather to discuss basic problems in quantum mechanics in the light of new technology. This volume collects 51 papers selected from over 200 papers by many distinguished scientists. It includes articles by C N Yang, J A Wheeler, Y Nambu, L Esaki and M P A Fisher, to name just a few, and contains topics ranging from quantum measurements to quantum cosmology.