The optics of life : a biologist's guide to light in nature / Sonke Johnsen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Johnsen, Sönke.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Photobiology.

Physiological optics.

Polarization (Light).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (357 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton, N.J. : Princeton University Press, 2011.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

"Optics--a field of physics focusing on the study of light--is also central to many areas of biology, including vision, ecology, botany, animal behavior, neurobiology, and molecular biology. The Optics of Life introduces the fundamentals of optics to biologists and non-physicists, giving them the tools they need to successfully incorporate optical measurements and principles into their research. S©œnke Johnsen starts with the basics, describing the properties of light and the units and geometry of measurement. He then explores how light is created and propagates and how it interacts with matter, covering topics such as absorption, scattering, fluorescence, and polarization. Johnsen also provides a tutorial on how to measure light as well as an informative discussion of quantum mechanics. The Optics of Life features a host of examples drawn from nature and everyday life, and several appendixes that offer further practical guidance for researchers. This concise book uses a minimum of equations and jargon, explaining the basic physics of light in a succinct and lively manner. It is the essential primer for working biologists and for anyone seeking an accessible introduction to optics"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Front matter

Contents

Acknowledgments

Chapter One. Introduction

Chapter Two. Units and Geometry

Chapter Three. Emission

Chapter Four. Absorption

Chapter Five. Scattering

Chapter Six. Scattering with Interference

Chapter Seven. Fluorescence

Chapter Eight. Polarization

Chapter Nine. Measuring Light

Chapter Ten. What Is Light, Really?

Appendix A. Converting Spectral Irradiance to Lux

Appendix B. Calculating the Absorbance Spectrum of a Visual Pigment

Appendix C. Refractive Indices of Common Substances

Appendix D. Optical Properties of Very Clear Water

Appendix E. Optical Properties of Natural Waters

Appendix F. Useful Formulas

Appendix G. Equipment and Software Suppliers

Bibliography

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9786613439741

1-283-43974-3

1-4008-4066-X

OCLC:

773566852