Jenny Magnes, Professor of Physics, and Juan Merlo-Ramírez, Associate Professor of Physics, recently published a new book, Optical Interference and Dynamic Diffraction: Research methods for undergraduates. The book is part of the IOP Series in Advances in Optics, Photonics and Optoelectronics, all of which are rapidly evolving technologies with potential applications across numerous STEM areas and across spatial and temporal scales.

Grounded in years of pedagogical experience, their new book presents the fundamental principles of physics behind the classical phenomenon of light diffraction and guides undergraduate learners toward an understanding of dynamic optical diffraction (DOD), which was developed by Professor Magnes and occurs with the movement or change of objects. Their new book ultimately demonstrates how DOD provides quantitative, analyzable signals that can be applied to better understand physical and biological systems. Professor Merlo-Ramírez also offers in this text practical tools, optical hardware, and safety considerations for experiments.