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The author of Skulls in the Stars is a professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
Category Archives: Optics
A new optics blog: Internal Reflections
There’s a new optics-related blog out there! A friend and colleague sent me notice that the company he works for, ASE Optics, has started its own blog, called Internal Reflections. Quoting their “about” page, This blog is a place to … Continue reading
Rolling out the (optical) carpet: the Talbot effect
One of the wonderful things about having a career in science is that a deeper understanding of the science leads to a greater appreciation of its beauty. In physics, this usually requires a nontrivial amount of mathematics, but there are … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Physics
31 Comments
Announcing: Mathematical Methods for Optical Physics and Engineering!
I’ve mumbled various random things in the past about my upcoming textbook project; this week, I finally got approval from the publisher to start hyping it on the blog. (Actually, they never prohibited it, but I just got around to … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Personal, Physics
18 Comments
Kepler’s contributions to optics, at Renaissance Mathematicus
Those who follow this site for optics and history of science posts should take at look at this nice post by The Renaissance Mathematicus. It covers the contributions of Johannes Kepler (1571-1630) to the modern theory of optics. Kepler is … Continue reading
Posted in History of science, Optics
1 Comment
Reversing optical “shockwaves” using metamaterials (updated)
In a recent issue of Physical Review Letters was an article with the intriguing (to me) title of “Experimental verification of reversed Cherenkov radiation in left-handed metamaterial,” by a collaboration from Zhejiang University in China and MIT. The paper is … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
7 Comments
Boo! The optics behind “ghost” imaging
Halloween seemed like the perfect time to talk about an unconventional sort of optical imaging, referred to as “ghost” imaging. I should point out at the beginning, however, that I’m not talking about this sort of ghost imaging: Don’t get … Continue reading
Posted in Optics
2 Comments
Frontiers in Optics: T,W,Th
One of the things that happens to me as the years go by is that I spend less time at meetings listening to talks and more time talking to friends and colleagues and planning new research collaborations. From discussions with … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Science news
4 Comments
Other blogging of Frontiers in Optics
By the way, if you’re looking for other blogging about the Frontiers in Optics meeting, there are 3 official bloggers this year, and they can be read here. I actually know Adam and Bob, and I’m absolutely convinced they’re trying … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Science news
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Frontiers in Optics: Monday
The main “act” on Monday at the conference was the Plenary Session/Awards Ceremony. Lots of scientists I’m familiar with (and whom I’ve met at one point or another) were given awards, including Joseph Goodman (known to students for his books … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Science news
3 Comments
“Liveblogging” What’s Hot in Optics at Frontiers in Optics 2009
Each year, Frontiers in Optics has a session entitled “What’s hot in optics”. I thought I’d “liveblog” it (type it up on my computer and post it later) like I did last year; hopefully the comments make sense, considering I … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Science news
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Skulls in the Stars 