About the Key Authors:Y. Aoyagi:1970-1972: Visiting Scientist of Japanese Society of Promotion of Science(JSPS) in Osaka University1972-1988: Research Scientist of Semiconductors Lab. in The Institute of Physical and Chemical Research (RIKEN)1985-1988: Deputy Director of the same above1988-2003: Director of the same above2000-2007: Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology2007- : Professor of Ritsumeikan University2003-2007: Team Leader of Nano science Program in RIKEN2003- : Emeritus Chief Scientist of RIKEN2007- : Emeritus Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology1989-1992: Visiting Professor of Osaka University1999-2002 Visiting Professor of Tokyo Science University1996-1997: Visiting Professor of Lund University (Sweden)1999-2000: Visiting Professor of Hokkaido University1999- : Visiting Professor of Toyo University1999-2000: Visiting Professor of Tokyo Institute of Technology2004-2005: Visiting Professor of Tohoku University2005-2006: Visiting Professor of Nagoya University2007- : Visiting Professor of Osaka Institute of Technology

K. Kajikawa:2008-present: Professor, Department of Electronics and Applied Physics, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology2002-2006 Researcher, PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)

1999-2007 Associate Professor, Department of Information Processing, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology

Covers recent developments of modern optical materials over wide range (from semiconductor to soft materials)

Reviews the advanced materials from basic introduction to the latest developments

Written by active researchers, working at forefront of each field

Has textbook potential because of the didactical and systematic presentation