Recommended readings

This is a list of recommended readings to prepare for specialized research areas in Project Elara. They are not compulsory but highly recommended.

Note: This list is closely related to Resources and tools, although this list points out specific sections relevant to active research areas for Project Elara. For a general overview of the background physics, engineering, and math for the Project, see the Elara Handbook.

For laser physics

Note: This section includes readings for free-electron masers and lasers, which are referenced by Free-electron maser physics and Prototype free-electron maser design.

• Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics:
  • Chapter 3 Wave Optics, sections 3.1 & 3.5
  • Chapter 11 Lasers and Coherent Light Sources, sections 11.1, 11.2, 11.4, 11.11

For RF transmission/antenna analysis

• Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics:
  • Chapter 19 Radiation and Optics in the Atmosphere, section 19.2
• Antenna Theory
  • The horn antenna
  • Waveguides

For quantum physics/statistical mechanics

• Mathematics for Quantum Mechanics (nearly every part of it is useful so it is highly recommended to at least skim through all of it)
• UCSD Quantum Physics Lecture Notes
  • Hyperfine structure

For thermal physics

• Springer Handbook of Lasers and Optics
  • Chapter 1 Basic Principles and Materials, section 1.4.1