Abstract

<h2>Acta Crystallographica Section A</h2><h3>Crystal Physics, Diffraction, Theoretical and General Crystallography</h3><h3>0567-7394</h3> <h2>book reviews</h2> Volume 29 Part 3 Pages 311-312 May 1973 <h2> Optical properties of solids edited by F. Abelès</h2> C. R. Pidgeon Optical properties of solids. Edited by F. ABEL'S. Pp. 1026, Figs. 421, Tables 43. Amsterdam: North Hol- land, 1972. Price f200.00 (ca. US $62.50). Our understanding of the basic physical properties of con- densed matter has been considerably advanced in the past ten years by the study of the optical properties of solids. The present volume contains a number of detailed and tutorial discussions of various aspects of this subject by ex- perts in the field. The level of treatment is suitable both for graduate students and for research workers. Eight more or less self-contained chapters are devoted to interactions of photons with various fundamental excitations in semicon- ductors, metals and insulators, one to non-crystalline solids, and two to the further information obtainable from applica- tion of the modulated reflectance and photoelectric emission techniques to the study of solids. On the whole it is an extremely useful book with a collec- tion of thorough and well documented contributions, both as a source of information and of