Waves in Focal Regions: Propagation, Diffraction and Focusing of Light, Sound and Water Waves (Series on Optics and Optoelectronics)

Rating:
Summary: Amazingly Useful And Complete
Review: This book is not as limited as its title would indicate, but isa very thorough treatment of wave propagation in essentially all situations where diffraction is important. I've used it very successfully in calculating the imaging performance of my various peculiar laser microscopes, and have learned a great deal.

It's three times as expensive as most optics textbooks, but well worth it if it saves you a couple of days of calculations.