Book Description

The authors expound on non-traditional phenomena for transfer theory, which are nevertheless of considerable interest in wave measurements, and bring the advances of transfer theory as close as possible to the practical needs of those working in all areas of wave physics. The book opens with a historical overview of the topic, then moves on to examine the phenomenological theory of radiative transport, blending traditional theory with original ideas. The transport equation is derived from first principles, and the ensuing discussion of the diffraction content of the transport equation and non-classical radiometry is illustrated by practical examples from various fields of physics. Popular techniques of solving the transport equation are discussed, paying particular attention to wave physics and computing the coherence function. The book also examines various problems which are no longer covered by the traditional radiative transfer theory, such as enhanced backscattering and weak localization phenomena, nonlinear transport problems and kinetic equations for waves. This monograph bridges the gap between the simple power balance description in radiative transfer theory and modern coherence theory. It will be of interest to researchers and professionals working across a wide range of fields from optics, acoustics and radar theory to astrophysics, radioastronomy and remote sensing, as well as to students in these areas.