With an eye to developing faster and more efficient optical communication and information processing systems, this text lucidly explores the relationship between entropy and information optics. Yu (electrical engineering, Pennsylvania State U.) introduces information transmission with definitions of information from the viewpoints of pure mathematics, physics, and communication engineering; and the concept of information theory as a branch of probability theory. Subsequent chapters focus on such topics as: diffraction and signal analysis, optical spatial channel and encoding principles, exorcising Maxwell's demon, coherence theory of optics, computing with optics, and communicating with fiber optics. Equations and illustrations illuminate the text. Appends material on linear difference equations, solutions of two equations in the text, and the probability energy distribution. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
"Identifies the relationship between entropy and information optics as the impetus for the research and development of high-speed, high-data-rate, and high-capacity communication systems. Examines computing, pattern recognition, and wavelet transformation."
