This book presents selected contributions from the 5th Conference on Optics within Life Sciences (OWLS). It is focused on the application of lasers and optics in biomedicine and the preservation of cultural heritage. Fourteen review papers and numerous related contributed papers give a survey of the state of the art in the application of lasers and optical methods in diagnostics, imaging, holography, interaction with biological tissues and preservation.

The International Society on Optics Within Life Sciences (OWLS) was founded in 1990 as a non-profit scientific organization based on individual membership. Its objective is to forward interdisciplinary information and communication of specialists in optics as well as in medicine, biology, environment and cultural heritage. To serve this purpose a series of International Conferences on Optics Within Life Sciences (OWLS I - V) has been established. The latest conference entitled Biomedicine and Culture in the Era ofModern Optics and Lasers took place on October 13-16, 1998 in Aghia Pelagia,...