Review of 'Random Differential Equations in Science and Engineering' (Soong, T. T.; 1973)

In recent years there has been a quickening in the rate of publication of books dealing with optical information processing and holography. With a few exceptions, these books appear to evolve from introductory courses or topical seminar series with which the authors are associated and as a result are directed toward the student or neophyte holographer. This book by Cathey is one of the better books of this type. W. T. Cathey is a Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Colorado. He has published several papers and taught extensively in the area of optical information processing and holography. In writing this book the author has drawn upon his experiences teaching the subject to younger students as well as to part-time students and summer session industrial and government personnel. In general, the book gives a workmanlike introduction to the fundamental concepts of optical information processing, touching upon most of the usual topics of scalar diffraction theory, Fourier transformation in optics, coherence, modulation, spatial filtering, and applications of holography. The subject matter is treated from the current vantage point of communications and network theory and benefits from the succinctness associated with this approach. The application areas discussed include the traditional areas of optical data processing and holography. For instance, acoustical holography, holographic interferometry, color holography, volume recording, and holographic microscopy etc. are all introduced with an analysis adequate for a physical understanding of the process. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the author did not commit adequate space to the discussion of synthetic aperture radar processing. This results in a rather unconvincing description of an area that still remains the most important technical contribution of optical data processing. Likewise, the section on bandwidth and three-dimensional holographic television was difficult to accept at face value because the author did not see fit to include a sufficient number of disclaimers. Thus the severity of the physical and technical problems associated with the area is not adequately communicated. Overall, the book should prove useful to senior undergraduate and first year graduate students. The references are sufficiently extensive to enable the reader to pursue any of the topics covered in greater detail. K. S. Pennington has published extensively in the area of holography and optical information processing. His work in this area resulted in the first multicolor holograms, early work in holographic interferometry, and materials processing as well as the development of …