For more than 400 years, optical glass has provided mankind with a window into both the hidden microcosm and vast outer cosmos of the known universe, transforming philosophy, science, and engineering through its visage and, thus, shaping modern civilization. Its high transmittance, homogeneity, and precisely defined light refraction properties are the preconditions for highly resolved true-color imaging, making it an intrinsic component of technology in general. From consumer products, such as cameras and binoculars, to microscopes and telescopes-the most essential tools of research in many fields-the role of optical glass is integral to the very foundations of modern science and industry.

If you want the best performance from your optics, they need to be properly maintained. This book describes the cleaning, handling, and storage methods used by professional technicians to keep optics in top condition. It is written for a diverse audience, from first-time optical cleaners to assembly technicians and seasoned engineers.

While several available texts discuss molded plastic optics, none provide information on all classes of molded optics. Filling this gap, Molded Optics: Design and Manufacture presents detailed descriptions of molded plastic, glass, and infrared optics. Since an understanding of the manufacturing process is necessary to develop cost-effective, produ

"Molding processes continue to innovate and push the boundaries of optical systems, not only for state-of-the-art, high-volume consumer products but also touching on almost every application where optics are used, from automotive headlights and medical endoscopes to thermal weapon sights for the warfighter. The most common optical molding technologies are injection molding of optical plastics and precision glass molding. This Field Guide primarily focuses on these two technologies but also covers the full spectrum of optical molding. It provides a convenient and concise source of knowledge on optical molding technologies and will be a valuable addition to a publication base that is rather limited"--

Baumeister organizes this book around the key subjects associated with functions of optical thin film performance, and provides a valuable resource in the field of thin film technology. The information is widely backed up with citations to patents and published literature. The author draws from 25 years of experience teaching classes at the UCLA Extension Program, and at companies worldwide to answer questions, such as: what are the conventions for a given analysis formalism? and, what other design approaches have been tried for this application?