This is a fascinating book on technologies that allow linear and angular precision measurement (and positioning) of nanometers or nanoradians.
Encyclopedic in coverage and details for the topic, the book consists of twelve self-contained chapters, each about a type of sensor or measurement technique. Each chapter includes an introduction that is readily accessible to a non-expert, several sections with technical depth supported by higher-order math, diagrams and charts, and color photos of devices or experimental lab arrangements. Each chapter also includes an extensive list of references, many as recent as 2021. The level of detail is helpful in dealing with the complex multidisciplinary challenges—combining mechanical, electronic and optical engineering—that arise when working to achieve such minute precision. The book also provides a helpful index of terms.
One possible improvement for a next edition would be to include considerations about trends and future directions—even as the measurement precision runs against fundamental physical limits. Both the large size and the lack of exercises make this work unlikely to be used as a textbook. But it is clearly a valuable resource for a professional working with precision metrology.
Review by Bogdan Hoanca, University of Alaska Anchorage, USA.
The opinions expressed in the book review section are those of the reviewer and do not necessarily reflect those of OPN or its publisher, Optica (formerly OSA).