Digital Diffractive Optics: An Introduction to Planar Diffractive Optics and Related Technology

Rating:
Summary: Modern, Straight Forward and Useful Optics Book
Review: I've been designing diffractive elements for about two years. I first started knowing almost nothing about DOEs (except that they worked on diffraction). Even after two years, and a couple of successful designs, I was still in the dark on some of the methods used in designing DOEs.

Bernard really puts a good book together. He starts with the very basics (diffraction), moves into designing DOEs (iterative and natural optimization methods, like GA and SA), and ends up with chapters on actually fabricating devices. He covers in very informative detail (like, say for the working engineer), and goes short of giving the shop away.

If you're tired of attending seminars on designing DOEs that just cover fourier diffraction principles, or books that really leave out the nitty-gritty, then Bernard's book is for you. There is an assumption that you have a decent understanding of optics, and are comfortable with at least two years of college math (calculus and DEs/PDEs).