History of Optical Science, Optics | Reference Information & Resources

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History of Optical Science, Optics | Information, Reference, & Resources

Brief History of Fiber Optic Technology
Historical developments and fiber optic fundamentals

History of Holograpy
People and historical developments in Holography

History of the Laser
Tecnical account of developments in the history of the laser from 1917 - 1996

History of Science Portal | Wikipedia
Special portal section at Wikipedia on the history of science and inquiry including reference information, data, articles, photos, news, and the paths that led to our present knowledge as well as those that were abandoned.

NIF | How Lasers Work & the First Laser
Article at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) about the first Ruby laser and the fundamentals of how lasers work.

Nobel Prize.org: Laser History
Laser history, development, uses, and nobel prizes awarded in laser use and development.

Optics Timeline
This "Timeline in Optics" highlights important events and developments in optics from prehistory to the beginning of the 21st century including related developments in other fields and related milestones.

Optical Scientists

Autobiography of Dennis Gabor
Physicist and 1971 Physics Nobel Prize winning discoverer of holography Dennis Gabor's autobiography

Beck, Friedrich Johann Karl (1855-1931)
Developed a method for determining the relationship between light refraction and refractive index differences observed in microscopic specimens which is now referred to as the formation of Becke lines.

Fresnel, Augustin-Jean (1788-1827)
Augustin-Jean Fresnel was a nineteenth century French physicist, most often remembered for the invention of unique compound lenses designed to produce parallel beams of light.

Herschel, Friedrich William (1738-1822)
Eighteenth century German astronomer who is credited with the discovery of the planet Uranus. In addition, Herschel measured the heights of about one hundred mountains on the moon, built & sold telescopes and utilized them to publish three catalogues containing data on 2500 heavenly objects, including the sixth and seventh moons of Saturn, Enceladus and Mimas.

Maxwell, James Clerk (1831-1879)
One of the greatest scientists of the nineteenth century and best known for the formulation of the theory of electromagnetism and in making the connection between light and electromagnetic waves.

Newton, Isaac (1642-1727)
Wolfram Science site on Isaac Newton, English Physicist and Mathematician who, among many other things, studied the properties of light and dispersion.

Snell, Wllebrord (1580-1626)
Willebrord Snell was an early seventeenth century Dutch mathematician who is best known for determining that transparent materials have different indices of refraction depending upon their composition