Within the text the authors summarize the discovery and properties of new optical materials. Included are thr latest advances in optical crystals, glasses and plastics, laser host materials, phase conjunction materials, linear electrooptic materials, elastooptic materials, photorefractive materials, liquid crystals and thin films and coatings. The book also includes expanded coverage of optical waveguard materials, ansd new sections on glass fibre lasers, diamond optics and graded index materials.