Since publication of the first edition of this book in 1988, interest in the optical properties of materials has continued to grow and there have been a number of important developments in the field. The aim of this second edition is to present an up-to-date and broad picture of the field of optical constants covering the theoretical background, experimental techniques and results for a wide range of materials (bulk and thin film) over a wide spectral range from soft x-rays to microwaves.

For the second edition Dr Ward has updated the book throughout. In particular, sections have been added on the optical properties of the sulphides, selenides and tellurides of cadmium, zinc and lead. Two other new sections deal with low dimensional structures, an important and relatively recent development area, and the sensitivities of different methods for measuring n, k and d.

A new Appendix giving tabulated values of optical constants for a large number of elements, insulators and semiconductors at two common laser wavelengths completes the second edition.