This book presents a new didactical approach to the study of optics. It
emphasizes the importance of elaborate new experimental demonstrations
containing pictorial illustrations, computer simulations and models of
optical phenomena in order to ensure a deeper understanding of wave and
geometric optics. It includes problems focused on the pragmatic needs of
students, secondary school teachers, university professors and optical
engineers. A substantial part of this volume is devoted to thermal
radiation and its properties, especially with partial coherence. A
detailed treatment of the photo-effect with respect to statistical
properties leads to the basics of statistical optics. To illustrate the
phenomena covered by this volume, a large number of demonstration
experiments are described and discussed. In the chapters devoted to
statistical phenomena computer simulations are described, the code of
all relevant programs being included.