The advances in the theory of diffraction gratings and the applications of these results certainly determine the progress in several areas of applied science and engineering. The polarization converters, phase shifters and filters, quantum and solid-state oscillators, open quasi optical dispersive resonators and power compressors, slow-wave structures and patter forming systems, accelerators and spectrometer; that is still far from being a complete list of devices exploiting the amazing ability of periodic structures to perform controlled frequency, spatial, and polarization selection of signals. Diffraction gratings used to be and still are one of the most popular objects of analysis in electromagnetic theory. The further development of the theory of diffraction gratings, in spite of considerable achievements, is still very important presently. The requirements of applied optics and microwave engineering present the theory of diffraction gratings with many new problems which force us to search for new methods and tools for their resolution. Just in such way there appeared recently new fields, connected with the analysis, synthesis and definition of equivalent parameters of artificial materials – layers and coatings, having periodic structure and possessing features, which can be found in natural materials only in extraordinary or exceptional situations. In this book the authors present results of the electromagnetic theory of diffraction gratings that may constitute the base of further development of this theory which can meet the challenges provided by the most recent requirements of fundamental and applied science. The following issues will be considered in the book Authentic methods of analytical regularization, that perfectly match the requirements of analysis of resonant scattering of electromagnetic waves by gratings; Spectral theory of gratings, providing a reliable foundation for the analysis of spatial – frequency transformations of electromagnetic fields occurring in open periodic resonators and waveguides; Parametric Fourier method and C-method, that are oriented towards the efficient numerical analysis of transformation properties of fields in the case of arbitrary profile periodic boundary between dielectric media and multilayered conformal arrays; Rigorous methods for analysis of transient processes and time-spatial transformations of electromagnetic waves in resonant situations, based on development and incorporation in standard numerical routines of FDTD of so called explicit absorbing boundary conditions; New approaches to the solution of homogenization problems – the key problem arising in construction of metamaterials and meta surfaces; New physical results about the resonance scattering of pulse and monochromatic waves by periodic structures, including structures with chiral or left-handed materials; Methods and the results of the solutions of several actual applied problems of analysis and synthesis of pattern creating gratings, power compressors, resonance radiators of high capacity short radio pulses, open electromagnetic structures for the systems of resonant quasi optics and absorbing coatings.

When I was a student, in the early fifties, the properties of gratings were generally explained according to the scalar theory of optics. The grating formula (which pre dicts the diffraction angles for a given angle of incidence) was established, exper imentally verified, and intensively used as a source for textbook problems. Indeed those grating properties, we can call optical properties, were taught'in a satisfac tory manner and the students were able to clearly understand the diffraction and dispersion of light by gratings. On the other hand, little was said about the "energy properties", i. e. , about the prediction of efficiencies. Of course, the existence of the blaze effect was pointed out, but very frequently nothing else was taught about the efficiency curves. At most a good student had to know that, for an eche lette grating, the efficiency in a given order can approach unity insofar as the diffracted wave vector can be deduced from the incident one by a specular reflexion on the large facet. Actually this rule of thumb was generally sufficient to make good use of the optical gratings available about thirty years ago. Thanks to the spectacular improvements in grating manufacture after the end of the second world war, it became possible to obtain very good gratings with more and more lines per mm. Nowadays, in gratings used in the visible region, a spacing small er than half a micron is common.

"Offers and up-to-date assessment of the entire field of diffraction gratings, including history, physics, manufacture, testing, and instrument design. Furnishes--for the first time in a single-source reference--a thorough review of efficiency behavior, examining echelles as well as concave, binary, transmission, fiber, and waveguide gratings."

In this book, a wide range of different topics related to analytical as well as numerical solutions of problems related to scattering, propagation, radiation, and emission in different medium are discussed. Design of several devices and their measurements aspects are introduced. Topics related to microwave region as well as Terahertz and quasi-optical region are considered. Bi-isotropic metamaterial in optical region is investigated. Interesting numerical methods in frequency domain and time domain for scattering, radiation, forward as well as reverse problems and microwave imaging are summarized. Therefore, the book will satisfy different tastes for engineers interested for example in microwave engineering, antennas, and numerical methods.

This book deals with all aspects of plasmonics, basics, applications and advanced developments. Plasmonics is an emerging field of research dedicated to the resonant interaction of light with metals. The light/matter interaction is strongly enhanced at a nanometer scale which sparks a keen interest of a wide scientific community and offers promising applications in pharmacology, solar energy, nanocircuitry or also light sources. The major breakthroughs of this field of research originate from the recent advances in nanotechnology, imaging and numerical modelling. The book is divided into three main parts: extended surface plasmons polaritons propagating on metallic surfaces, surface plasmons localized on metallic particles, imaging and nanofabrication techniques. The reader will find in the book: Principles and recent advances of plasmonics, a complete description of the physics of surface plasmons, a historical survey with emphasize on the emblematic topic of Wood's anomaly, an overview of modern applications of molecular plasmonics and an extensive description of imaging and fabrications techniques.