Contributors to Novel Optical Materials & Applications G. Abbate, Università di Napoli "Federico II" G. Arnone, Università di Napoli "Federico II" Gaetano Assanto, University of Central Florida Daniel Baboiu, University of Central Florida Yongsoon Baek, University of Central Florida F. J. Bartoli, Naval Research Laboratory C. Buss, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique Andrew Dienes, University of California, Davis H. Ezaki, University of Tokyo C. Flytzanis, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique R. Frey, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique Dave Hagan, University of Central Florida E. Hanamura, University of Tokyo C. A. Hoffman, Naval Research Laboratory J. Inoue, University of Tokyo A. Itoh, University of Tokyo A. E. Kaplan, Johns Hopkins University I. C. Khoo, Pennsylvania State University André Knoesen, University of California, Davis A. Lauria, Università di Napoli "Federico II" Isabelle Ledoux, France Telecom???Centre National d'Etudes des Télécommunications P. Maddalene, Università di Napoli "Federico II" Loïc Mager, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Henry O. Marcy, Rockwell International L. Marrucci, Università di Napoli "Federico II" J. R. Meyer, Naval Research Laboratory D. Paparo, Università di Napoli "Federico II" Gilles Pauliat, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique L. R. Ram–Mohan, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Gérard Roosen, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique Mark J. Rosker, Rockwell International Daniel Rytz, Centre de Recherche en Optoélectronique E. Santamato, Università di Napoli "Federico II" Roland Schiek, University of Central Florida P. L. Shkolnikov, Johns Hopkins University Erkin Sidick, University of California, Davis George Stegeman, University of Central Florida Lluís Torner, University of Central Florida William Torruellas, University of Central Florida Eric Van Stryland, University of Central Florida S. Wabnitz, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique Zuo Wang, University of Central Florida E. Westin, CNRS, Ecole Polytechnique F. Yura, University of Tokyo Joseph Zyss, France Telecom???Centre National d'Etudes des Télécommunications The unique physical, optical, and electronic characteristics of novel optical materials are the objects of intense research and applications in optical communication, signal and image processing, and information storage. Until now, however, no single reference offered an up–to–date treatment of the major classes of these materials and their applications in nonlinear optics, integrated optics, electro–optics, optical storage, and information processing. Novel Optical Materials and Applications fills that gap with timely contributions from leading authorities in virtually every subdiscipline of the field. Several of the discussions treat new or emerging applications developed for materials already widely used in other applications, including semiconductors, liquid crystals, polymers, photorefractive crystals, and other specially engineered materials. The discussion of semiconductors focuses on nanostructures and quantized structures, which possess very high density optoelectronics data– and signal–processing capabilities. They also enable the creation of ever more efficient and broad spectral range lasers and optoelectronics devices. The many applications of liquid crystals have lately been expanded by the discovery of both new material systems and new phenomena. The new systems/phenomena discussed here include dye–doped liquid crystals and waveguide structures. Polymeric materials are viewed in the light of their electro–optical and nonlinear optical properties, which have been exploited in the latest achievements in ultrafast devices for optical modulations and efficient wavelength conversion processes and structures. The emphasis in the discussion of photorefractive materials is on applications in ultrahigh density optical phase conjugation, holographic storage, optical computing, and neural networks. Virtually all of the materials discussed in this text are compatible: The construction of any practical device or system would likely involve several, if not all, of them. Materials with similar applications may in many cases be used not only as substitutes for each other, but also to enhance or complement each other's performance. Novel Optical Materials and Applications is an eye–opening reference for researchers, engineers, and optical and materials scientists in both industry and academia. It is also an excellent supplement and reference for graduate courses in materials science, physics, and optical engineering.