Hardbound. Volume 31 in the Progress in Optics series again proves the value of well written comprehensive reviews in the broad field of optics.The first article presents a thorough review of recent investigations concerning multiphoton ionization of atoms in intense radiation fields and includes discussions on above threshold ionization, generation of higher-order harmonics of an intense field interacting with a gaseous medium and the role of chaotic dynamics in the interaction of atoms with monochromatic radiation. A tutorial section on chaotic behavior is also included.The second article presents a review of modern developments regarding properties of light diffracted by gratings. Both a phenomenological treatment and a macroscopic analysis are presented.The following article reviews developments relating to optical amplifiers, especially those which use semiconductors and optical fibers. The article covers the operating princip