Given the considerable progress in integrated optical devices in the last decades, this book—subtitled “Materials, Device Physics, Guided Wave Design”—is intended to update the reader, reviewing and expanding on information from several classical textbooks and research papers. Starting with a brief history and basic theory, the book moves swiftly through multiple passive and some active integrated optical devices, concluding with a chapter on numerical methods applicable to the field.
The promise of photonic integrated circuits is that optical alignment is ensured by the parallel and simultaneous fabrication of the optical devices, using planar technologies already perfected for electronic circuits. In contrast, micro- and macro-optics use optical devices that are fabricated separately, requiring alignment at the system assembly.
The reader of the book must contend with occasional obvious typos (none fundamentally detracting from understanding the concepts), as well as with some terms used without definition, which could cause some consternation for a less experienced reader. Most chapters include one to five problems; solutions (to most problems) are at the end of the book.
Many of the references for chapters are classic textbooks from many decades ago, along with key papers, mostly from before the year 2000; only two are more recent than 2016. Although the version reviewed was electronic—easily allowing for text searches—the book already includes an expansive index of terms. With the many references and problems, the book would be useful as a textbook, as well as a reference for a professional in the field.
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).