This book Introduction to Optics I: Interaction of Light with Matter is the first book in a
series of four covering the introduction to optics and optical components. The author's
targeted goal for this series is to provide clarity for the reader by addressing common
difficulties encountered while trying to understand various optics concepts. This first book is
organized and written in a way that is easy to follow and is meant to be an excellent first
book on optics eventually leading the way for further study. Those with technical backgrounds
as well as undergraduate students studying optics for the first time can benefit from this book
series. The current book includes three chapters on light and its characteristics (Chapter 1)
on matter from the standpoint of optics (Chapter 2) and on the interaction of light with
matter (Chapter 3). Among the characteristics of light the ones characterizing its speed
color and strength are covered. The polarization of light will be covered in the next book of
the series where we discuss optical components. Chapter 2 discusses various atomic and
molecular transitions activated by light (optical transitions). Different kinds of natural bulk
material media are described: crystalline and amorphous atomic and molecular conductive and
insulating. Chapter 3 on the interaction of light with matter describes naturally occurring
phenomena such as absorption dispersion and nonlinear optical interactions. The discussion is
provided for the natural bulk optical materials only. The interfaces between various materials
will be covered in the next book on optical components. The following three books of the series
are planned as follows. In the second book we will focus on passive optical components such as
lenses mirrors guided-wave and polarization optical devices. In the third book we will
discuss laser sources and optical amplifiers. Finally the fourth book in the series will cover
optoelectronic devices such as semiconductor light sources and detectors.
