Technologies of Light: Lasers · Fibres · Optical Information Processing Early Monitoring of Technological Change A Report from the FAST Programme of the Commission of the European Communities
Erwin-Ulrich Kotte · Klaus Derge · R. Roy Landeryou · Reinhart Poprawe · Theo Tschudi · Werner Wobbe
Dec 2012 · Springer Science & Business Media
Ebook
144
Pages
reportRatings and reviews aren’t verified Learn More
About this ebook
Discoveries and inventions periodically cause new technological developments within human societies. Key inventions and their accompanying economic and social changes can be seen as the main promoters of technological and structural progress. Many examples of change can be traced back to key inventions. At the end of the last century, one of the major lines of technological development was the implementation of electricity, the introduction of electric current. Inno vations were generated both by applying the "low quality" thermal and energy transmission properties, as well as by studying "high quality" characteristics like signal processing and electromagnetic wave propagation. In the field of signal processing, particular devices like the thermionic valve, the transistor and the (micro) chip deserve mention. Regarding energy generation, distribution and consumption, huge investments were made in coal and nuclear power plants, as well as in consumer and industrial electric appliances. Which innovations can be expected to improve or replace some of the applications (products, processes) of electricity? Thinking of an important technology invented about three decades ago - the laser - coherent light plays the key role in the process ("light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation"). Thus the new term technologies of light can be used for such innovations. Extending the definition, "technologies of light" or "photonics" can be defined as any methods, processes or products which make use of the spectrum of light, and any systems whose function is to study, measure, transform or transmit by means of light.
Rate this ebook
Tell us what you think.
Reading information
Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.
