Beam Weapons describes the roots of Ronald Reagan's 'Star Wars' quest for a strategic defense system to intercept and destroy nuclear ballistic missiles before they could reach their targets. The goal was to develop radically new beam weapons that destroyed nuclear missiles with directed energy — laser beams or charged particles.The daring program was born at a time of intense technological optimism, when NASA talked of weekly space shuttle flights. Pentagon planners envisioned a f...

We're part of the cover-up!Did you know that there is a secret government agency dedicated to creating conspiracy theories? It's true! It's on Facebook!But it's not in this book. Our conspiracy theories are all fiction. At least, that's what we want you to think! Certainly, we did invite fiction writers to weigh in on conspiracy theories. The result includes (of course) the Masons and dragons (David Clements), the Bavarian Illuminati (Debra Doyle and James D. Macdonald) and t...

Beam is the story of the race to make the laser, the three intense years from the birth of the laser idea to its breakthrough demonstration in a California laboratory. The quest was a struggle against physics, established wisdom, and the establishment itself. In 1954, Charles Townes invented the laser's microwave cousin, the maser. The next logical step was to extend the same physical principles to the shorter wavelengths of light, but the idea did not catch fire until October 1957, when T...

The expanded fourth edition of the book that offers an essential introduction to laser technology and the newest developments in the fieldThe revised and updated fourth edition of Understanding Lasers offers an essential guide and introduction that explores how lasers work, what they do, and how they are applied in the real world. The author—a Fellow of The Optical Society—reviews the key concepts of physics and optics that are essential for understanding ...

This instructor's guide is written to accompany to the fifth edition of Understanding Fiber Optics by Jeff Hecht, originally published by Pearson/Prentice-Hall in 2006 and later republished by Laser Light Press. It is being published now to help readers using the book in self-study of fiber optics, because nothing like it has been published since then. It includes answers to quiz questions and "questions to think about" in the book, and worked-out calculations for many of the problems in t...

Do rising tides always lift all boats?Third Flatiron's all-original science fiction/fantasy/horror/humor short story anthology has the theme, "After the Gold Rush." Twenty-two authors explore themes related to complications of booms and bubbles, including effects of accelerated culture; ecological consequences caused by human over-expansion, such as climate disasters; and economics (for example, monopolies on resources and commodities). Includes a flash humor section, "Grins & Gurg...

Adventures in Self-Republishing is a guide for authors who want to revive out of print books by republishing them in print or electronically. It focuses on authors with only printed copies, which must be scanned and run through OCR before starting self-republication. It describes options that depend on the format of the book, including whether or not it includes illustrations, how elaborate the type formatting is, and its use of reference citations. It explains the important differences am...

City of Light tells the story of fiber optics, tracing its transformation from 19th-century parlor trick into the foundation of our global communications network. Written for a broad audience by a journalist who has covered the field for twenty years, the book is a lively account of both the people and the ideas behind this revolutionary technology. The basic concept underlying fiber optics was first explored in the 1840s when researchers used jets of water to guide light in labor...

The only introductory text on the market today that explains the underlying physics and engineering applicable to all lasersAlthough lasers are becoming increasingly important in our high-tech environment, many of the technicians and engineers who install, operate, and maintain them have had little, if any, formal training in the field of electro-optics. This can result in less efficient usage of these important tools.Introduction to Laser Technology

The multiple Locus Award-winning annual collection of the year's best science fiction stories.In the new millennium, what secrets lay beyond the far reaches of the universe? What mysteries belie the truths we once held to be self-evident? The world of science fiction has long been a porthole into the realities of tomorrow, blurring the line between life and art. Now, in The Year’s Best Science Fiction: Thirty-Fifth Annual Collection, the very best SF authors explore ideas ...

For well over a quarter of a century, Gardner Dozois has been defining the field with his annual selection of the very best of recently published science fiction. Every year he showcases truly exceptional contemporary writing, both by undisputed masters of the genre and outstanding up-and-coming writers. Comprising thirty-three fantastic stories by authors of the calibre of Paolo Bacigalupi, James S. A. Corey, Ann Leckie, Paul McAuley and Ian McDonald, and including, as ever, Dozois' illum...

A Comprehensive Guide to Sensors and Control Systems in ManufacturingThoroughly updated with cutting-edge technologies, this detailed resource offers proven methods for effectively evaluating, selecting, and implementing sensors and controls to ensure error-free manufacturing environments. Sensors and Control Systems in Manufacturing, Second Edition offers step-by-step guidance on applying sensors to measure product parameters, control manufacturing, develop precision ma...