Presents a treatment of fundamental aspects of the generation, transfer and detection of optical and infra-red radiation. Emphasis placed on practical aspects of radiometry in detection. Discusses formal principles of radiometry, signal-to-noise considerations in the detection of optical radiation, and the operation of various radiation detectors. Includes tables and graphs of blackbody functions.

Robert William Boyd is an American physicist noted for his work in optical physics and especially in nonlinear optics. He is currently Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate in Quantum Nonlinear Optics at the University of Ottawa and on the Faculty at the University of Rochester.