Pedrottis' Introduction to Optics, 4e
Our new book, a revised and updated edition of Pedrottis' Introduction to Optics, is now available from Cambridge University Press. The content is well-suited to a wide range of undergraduate optics courses in physics and engineering, and can also support other courses in the physical and life sciences.
The book's cover displays the vibrant blue wing of the Morpho granadensis butterfly, which is a striking example of “structural color”, stemming from incoming white light scattering off an intricate, nano-scale, multilayered surface. With 26 chapters, covering topics from ray optics to nonlinear optics, we aspire to assist students and instructors alike in discovering the delights of light, and of the study of light.
All feedback is welcome at rayfshiell@trentu.ca.
Temporary Note (posted Sep 10, 2026) - individual online resources from CUP's website are currently unavailable, but interactive animations, key formulas, and errata are mirrored below, and a zipped file of these remains available here – see the red arrow in the accompanying screenshot.
Interactive animations for figures in the book - mirrored here
• To gain the most from interactive animations, we suggest first explaining the figure directly from the book in your own words as much as possible and then exploring the animation. If you initially encounter some confusion stay the course, for research shows this can be a great teacher.
Key formulas from each chapter - mirrored here
• Useful for students when revising the material, and for instructors when composing formula sheets. Here is a collection of main equations from Themes I–IV, with the notation kept as consistent as possible throughout the book.
Errata, June 2026 - mirrored here
• Here you can find content corrections, typos, and clarifications for both the first and second printings of the book. The printings may be readily distinguished by comparing the text at the top of the table on page xxvi, as described in these errata.
Integrated testlets; read more here
• Integrated testlets arose in 2012 from a collaboration between Rayf Shiell and Aaron Slepkov at Trent University. They assess student knowledge and understanding through a set of scaffolded multiple-choice questions, each adopting an answer-until-correct format which also allows for the granting of partial credit. Originally deployed using scratch cards, they have more recently been delivered though the WeBWorK online platform, and textbook deployment is found within each chapter of Pedrottis' Introduction to Optics, 4e.
Poster showcasing 60 years of laser innovation, to 2020, from SPIE
Poster of Nobel Prizes in optics & photonics from 1901 to the present day, from SPIE
Some tips to help care for a new book