This volume includes a selection of papers presented at the IAG international symposium "Gravity, Geoid and Height Systems 2012" (GGHS2012), which was organized by IAG Commission 2 “Gravity Field” with the assistance of the International Gravity Field Service (IGFS) and GGOS Theme 1 “Unified Global Height System”. The book summarizes the latest results on gravimetry and gravity networks, global gravity field modeling and applications, future gravity field missions. It provides a detailed compilation on advances in precise local and regional high-resolution geoid modeling, the establishment and unification of vertical reference systems, contributions to gravity field and mass transport modeling as well as articles on the gravity field of planetary bodies.

Proceedings of SPIE present the original research papers presented at SPIE conferences and other high-quality conferences in the broad-ranging fields of optics and photonics. These books provide prompt access to the latest innovations in research and technology in their respective fields. Proceedings of SPIE are among the most cited references in patent literature.

Nonlinear optical phenomena can be exploited in advanced devices for transport, processing, and storage of information. These are needed as the present-day approach - mainly using on electron-based technology - faces the challenges of increasing demand on bandwidth and processing speed. A key role in the development of nonlinear devices is the availability of novel materials with the required nonlinear optical properties. With such materials, scientific creativity and careful design, promising concepts have been developed resulting in the demonstration of devices. This book contains the proceedings of NOIS 2000 (Nonlinear Optics for the Information Society) Annual Meeting of the COST Action P2, held at the University of Twente, in Enschede, The Netherlands, on 26-27 October, 2000. It comprises a selection of the presentations at the meeting, reporting state-of-the-art research and developments in the field of applications of nonlinear phenomena in information technology.

Nonlinear optical materials play a pivotal role in the future evolution of nonlinear optics in general and its impact in technology and industrial applications in particular. The progress in nonlinear optics has been tremendous since the first demonstration of an all-optical nonlinear effect in the early sixties, but until recently the main visible emphasis was on the physical aspects of the nonlinear radiation matter interaction. In the last decade, however, this effort has also brought its fruits in applied aspects of nonlinear optics. This can be essentially traced to the improvement of the performances of the nonlinear optical materials. Our understanding of the nonlinear polarization mechanisms and their relation to the structural characteristics of the materials has been considerably improved. In addition, the new development of techniques for the fabrication and growth of artificial materials has dramatically contributed to this evolution. The goal is to find and develop materials presenting large nonlinearities and satisfying at the same time all the technological requirements for applications such as wide transparency range, fast response, high damage threshold but also processability, adaptability and interfacing with other materials. Improvements, besides rendering possible the implementation of nonlinear effects in devices, open the way to the study of new nonlinear optical effects and the introduction of new concepts. This book describes new concepts which are emerging in the field of nonlinear optical materials, concentrating the attention on materials which seem more promising for applications in the technology of information transmission and processing.

Proceedings of SPIE present the original research papers presented at SPIE conferences and other high-quality conferences in the broad-ranging fields of optics and photonics. These books provide prompt access to the latest innovations in research and technology in their respective fields. Proceedings of SPIE are among the most cited references in patent literature.