ABSTRACT
In this chapter, we deal with optical techniques in nondestructive evaluation (NDE). This field falls within the general category of using light to discern certain properties of matter. Figure 10 . 1 illustrates this concept of using light in this manner. This illustration also serves to describe the general approach of the chapter. We begin with a description of the properties and behavior of light, for instance, how light propagates though space as well as a dielectric medium. Incidentally, the use of the term light in no way restricts our attention to the visible spectrum. Optical engineers refer to electromagnetic energy in general as "light."
