During the next years neural networks and systems amenable to instructions will extend their influence in science and technology. A prominent point of interest in this field is assigned to optical networks: they are small and flexible, and due to their ability of parallel processing they are devoted to the construction of small systems. This monograph explains the fundamentals of optical neural networks to physicists, engineers and device constructors.

SPIE Milestones are collections of seminal papers from the world literature covering important discoveries and developments in optics and photonics.

SPIE Milestones are collections of seminal papers from the world literature covering important discoveries and developments in optics and photonics.

SPIE Milestones are collections of seminal papers from the world literature covering important discoveries and developments in optics and photonics.

This tutorial text provides the reader with an understanding of artificial neural networks (ANNs), and their application, beginning with the biological systems which inspired them, through the learning methods that have been developed, and the data collection processes, to the many ways ANNs are being used today. The material is presented with a minimum of math (although the mathematical details are included in the appendices for interested readers), and with a maximum of hands-on experience. All specialized terms are included in a glossary. The result is a highly readable text that will teach the engineer the guiding principles necessary to use and apply artificial neural networks.

This practical, applications-based professional handbook comprehensively covers the theory and applications of Fourier Analysis, spanning topics from engineering mathematics, signal processing and related multidimensional transform theory, and quantum physics to elementary deterministic finance and even the foundations of western music theory.

These 72 papers have been selected from those presented at the 1998 International Conference on Optics and Optoelctronics.