The interaction between the electromagnetic field and matter is an essential issue in modem physics. The physical concepts describing the field-matter interaction are of paramount importance, being at the origin of quantum mechanics and quantum field theories. On the other hand, the field-matter interaction is the main tool used nowadays to investigate the structure and properties of matter at the microscopic level. The subject of this book is the characterization of the solid-state through the interaction with the electromagnetic field. The main properties of different types of solids, such...