By Phil Danielson
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By Phil Danielson
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Choosing Your Vacuum Book's The many types of vacuum technology books available reflect the complexity and diversity of vacuum science and technology itself. Simply stated, vacuum technology’s applications fit into no particular industry or discipline. Vacuum specialists come from almost every possible technical and scientific background and apply vacuum technology in, around, and across a bewildering array of scientific and practical industrial areas. This situation makes it virtually impossible to have any single form of book covering the technology that will be of use or appeal to either all, or even a majority, of vacuum practitioners. This, then, describes both the need and the challenge encountered by either an author or a reader. The need for knowledge of vacuum technology arises at all possible technical/scientific levels and covers any number of specialties. The range required stretches from the pure theoretical to the workaday practical. Consider the person, competent within his own field(s), suddenly needing to work with vacuum systems and technology. It’s hard to know where to start. The logical move, of course, is to acquire the book. Well, the truth is that there is a plethora of books available and that either one or several of them will fit the needs of that person. The trick lies in narrowing down the choices. Although there’s no precise technique for breaking down the various types of vacuum books, there are several rough categorical methods that are useful. The first macro grouping can be made as follows: 1. Books about vacuum technology in general, and 2. Books about a specific vacuum technology application area. Books about Vacuum Technology in General Books that fall into this category are available at almost any technical level ranging from the long-time vacuum physicist to the person of limited technical background who is using vacuum technology for the first time. In general, books in this category will cover the basic physics of such topics as gas flow, behavior of molecules, and pressure dynamics. This basic vacuum knowledge is essentially timeless and will usually only vary in the depth in which it is covered. More timely information will be imparted with discussions of the hardware required in vacuum applications. The pumps, gauges, seals, and other specific points are usually covered in some detail. Since there is always an ongoing evolution in hardware, the latest equipment and techniques will usually be described at the time of the writing. Some general vacuum books will go into specific application areas in a broadbrush manner. But they will always be limited in details due to the constraints of space. At least one book of this category should be found on the shelves of any vacuum practitioner. Books about Specific Vacuum Applications Books that fall into this category are usually based on the fact that some particular application is highly dependent upon vacuum technology, but only a segment of the available body of knowledge is of particular importance. Electron microscopy and mass spectrometry are two good examples that are focused on specific instrumentation areas. Vacuum technology, in books of this sort, will probably be mixed in with the discussion of the particular instrument in question and the techniques specific to that instrument. Interestingly enough, some of the clearest and most succinct explanations of various vacuum technology concepts will be found here. Additionally, broader application groupings such as books on thin film technology and applications will also contain good, but often application limited, basic vacuum information. Books on Specific Vacuum Topics Vacuum technology itself can be broken into a number of categories. This is especially true of specific topics relating to either hardware or measurement. Good examples are books on pumps and pumping, seals and sealing, and gauges and gauging. The complexity and variation within these topics are wide enough that they often deserve to be treated as their own free-standing topics. Vacuum practitioners with particular needs and interests will be drawn to books within this category. These books are usually written by authors who are steeped in general vacuum knowledge, but who have particular interest, experience, and expertise to impart. In many cases, the author will also provide some basic general vacuum information that is applicable to the subject. Single or Multi-Author Although hardly a category within itself, there are some often specific differences on the overall content, depending on whether the book is written by a single author or whether a number of authors have contributed portions. The breadth of the technology is such that it is often difficult for a single author to cover the whole field adequately. This is especially true in areas that are undergoing rapid change and growth. Using a multi-author approach is one way of dealing with the problem. In many cases, the book is broken into chapters with each separate chapter written by a single author. This allows a topic to be covered by an author who has deep knowledge on that topic. Such books accomplish the purpose, but tend to be somewhat uneven in coverage and style. The practical problems of an editor in trying to overcome the varying authors’ approaches are intimidating at best. Additionally, it is not always possible to find an author to cover some pertinent aspect adequately, and this lack can leave some areas uncovered. This kind of book requires that the prospective reader ensure that the areas of interest to that reader are covered. The single author approach has its problems as well. Anyone working in vacuum technology will have a stronger interest and knowledge in some areas and not in others. This can result in books that are also uneven in coverage to some extent, but they will be uneven in a different way than the multi-author. Style and overall approach will be of higher integrity, and this consistency will often make it a more easily read book. The book can then be approached within the parameters of the mental processes of the author. New Books and Old There’s an obvious tendency to reach for the newest book on a subject and assume that it will contain all of the most useful information. In one way, this is true. It will tend to cover the cogent facts that pertain, according to the latest “conventional wisdom” at the time of writing. This might be exactly what the reader wants at that time. However, as a deeper knowledge becomes required, the older books will contain more depth and explanation. This is due to the fact that newer technology tends to come in a number of forms and variations. As things shake down, though, the informational depth is, seemingly, no longer required. This is where readers need to make some decisions. How deep should they go? How deep do they need to go, and when? If the depth of understanding of the possible variations is missing, it becomes more difficult to really understand today’s hardware and process needs. Choosing the Book's Obviously, it is impossible to recommend either a single book or even a group of books to either prospective or experienced vacuum practitioners. The practical solution is to pick through the available books to see what fits your specific needs either in technical level or particular subject. In truth, a string of books that are available at hand and referred to constantly is the usual result. Book reviews are a good place to start. One of the prime questions an engineer needs to ask mentally is, “What am I trying to do?” This is a good question to ask here as well. What do you want a book to accomplish for you? As you think about it, it’s worthwhile to consider about what the author is trying to accomplish as well. What audience is the book written for? Since there’s an intellectual dialogue that takes place between the reader and author as a book is being read, it’s possible to consider that same type of dialogue before acquiring or even reading a given book. Always remember, the best book to have is the one you read and use. A good book review can help you find the one that will be best for you now and in the future as your knowledge develops. |
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