In Print: ‘Interference: The History of Optical Interferometry and the Scientists Who Tamed Light’

Purdue faculty dedicate countless hours to exploring the frontiers of their respective fields, pushing the boundaries of knowledge and contributing to the ever-evolving landscape of academia. To celebrate our faculty’s excellence in scholarship, Purdue Today’s weekly book series will highlight faculty expertise across a diversity of subjects and disciplines. Today’s feature focuses on David Nolte, the Edward M. Purcell Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy, and his book, “Interference: The History of Optical Interferometry and the Scientists Who Tamed Light.”

Publication title

Interference: The History of Optical Interferometry and the Scientists Who Tamed Light

Purdue author

David Nolte 

Publisher

Oxford University Press

Publication date

September 2023

About the book (from the publisher)

Ever wonder why soap bubbles become invisible right before they pop? Or why lenses are so blue they look purple? How is it possible to image black holes at the heart of distant galaxies? The answer to all these questions is “Interference.” This book tells the story of the science of optical interferometry — mankind’s most sensitive form of measurement — and of the scientists who tamed light to make outstanding discoveries, from lasers and holograms to astronomy and quantum physics.

In the past several years, interferometry has been used to discover exoplanets orbiting distant stars, to take the first image of a black hole, to detect the first gravitational waves and to create the first programmable quantum computer. This list of achievements points to the fertile and active field of interferometry, for which this book provides a convenient and up-to-date guide for a wide audience interested in the science of light. 

About the Purdue author

David Nolte is the Edward M. Purcell Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy at Purdue University. He is an internationally recognized researcher in holography and interferometry and directs the Coherent Optics and Laser Interferometry Group.

Nolte has secured 24 U.S. patents in interferometric optics and biophotonics and is also a technical founder of two start-up companies based on biological applications of interferometric detectors.