Iridescences: The Physical Colors of Insects / Edition 1

by Serge Berthier

Overview

Butterflies and coleoptera are the most beautifully colored insects we can find. This book wants to understand the origin of these brilliant colors from a physics perspective. The different physical phenomena are explained and numerous color illustrations shown. The book is a rich source for optical physicists, biologists, and teachers alike.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780387341194
Publisher:	Springer New York
Publication date:	12/19/2006
Edition description:	2007
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	7.01(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.03(d)

About the Author

Serge Berthier teaches physics at the Denis Diderot-Paris 7 University and researches biologic structures, colors and biomimetism at the Institut des NanoSciences de Paris ( Pierre and Marie Curie-Paris 6 University and CNRS). He teaches solid state optics in the post-graduate degree "Optics and material" and the post-graduate research degree "Optics and Photonic" for the Denis Diderot University. He also teaches electromagnetism and laser physics to undergraduates at the Paris-Jussieu Institut of Technology.

Table of Contents

Iridescence.- Why Colors.- Lepidoptera Description and Scales of Observation.- Coleoptera Description and Observation Scales.- Changing Colors: Structures or Pigments?.- Physical Colors, Chemical Colors Basics of Solid State Optics.- 1-Dimensional Structures: Interferences.- 2-Dimensional Structures: Interferences and Diffraction.- 3-Dimensional Structures: Crystalline Diffraction.- Amorphous Structures: Scattering.- Pigments and Pigmentary Colors.- Thermoregulation and Spectral Selectivity.- Vision and Colorimetry.

Editorial Reviews

From the reviews:

"Berthier is a professor of physics at the University of Paris Diderot–7 and researches biological structures, colors and biomimetics at Pierre and Marie Curie University. … If you want to see some wonderful photographs that show the intricate and delicate structures of insect wings, then Berthier’s book fit the bill." (George Kattawar, Physics Today, February, 2008)

"The colors of insects are amazing, and this book is a remarkable showcase for them. There are a lot of colorful insect photographs, micrographs and illustrations. The physics behind insect colors is explained in a simple and clear manner. … I read the book with interest and I recommend it to both physicists and biologists." (Dejan Pantelic, Optics and Photonics News, July/August, 2007)

"The book investigates the physical basis of color in nature … . This is a fascinating book … bringing together the interests of biologists and physicists. It is well written and succeeds in explaining physical principles and phenomena to the non-physicist. … The book is illustrated throughout with beautiful color images of the whole organism … . clearly designed graphs and diagrams assist in illustrating physical principles. … it will find its way into many university libraries – this book certainly deserves a broad audience." (Hannelore Hoch, Deutsche Entomologische Zeitschrift, Vol. 56 (1), 2009)

From the Publisher