Self-Organization in Nonlinear Optics - Kaleidoscope of Patterns -- 1 What Is This Book About? -- 2 Nonlinear Optics: The Good Old Times -- 3 The First Model - Kerr-Sliee/Feedback Mirror System -- 4 Diffusion, Diffraction, and Spatial Scales -- 5 One More Scheme: The First Step Toward Optical Synergetics -- 6 Nonlocal Interactions; Optical Kaleidoscope of Patterns -- 7 OK-Equation and "Dry Hydrodynamics" -- 8 One More Nonlinear Element: Two-Component Optical Reaction-Diffusion Systems -- 9 Diffraction at Last; Rolls and Hexagons -- 10 diffraction and Diffraction -- 11 Far Away from Hexagons: Delay in Time and Space -- 12 Diffusion + Diffraction + (Interference) + Nonlocal Interactions = Akhseals -- References -- 1 Information Processing and Nonlinear Physics: From Video Pulses to Waves and Structures -- 1 Information Encoding by Carrier Modulation and the Physics of Nonlinear Oscillations and Waves -- 2 Modulation of Light Waves and Information Encoding in Digital Optical Computers. Optical Triggers -- 3 Strong Optical Nonlinearities. Nonlinear Materials -- 4 Generation and Transformation of Femtosecond Light Pulses -- 5 Control of Transverse Interactions in Nonlinear Optical Resonators: Generation, Hysteresis, and Interaction of Nonlinear Structures -- 6 Conclusion. Nonlinear Optics and Molecular Electronics -- References -- 2 Optical Design Kit of Nonlinear Spatial Dynamics -- 1 Elementary Optical Synergetic Blocks -- 2 Integral Transverse Interactions -- 3 Optical Counterparts of Two-Component Reaction-Diffusion Systems -- 4 Conclusion -- References -- 3 Pattern Formation in Passive Nonlinear Optical Systems -- 1 Induced and Spontaneous Patterns -- 2 Mirror Feedback Systems -- 3 Pattern Formation in Optical Cavities -- 4 Conclusion -- References -- 4 Spatio-Temporal Instability Threshold Characteristics in Two-Level Atom Devices -- 1 Linear Stability Analysis of Stationary Solutions -- 2 Feedback Mirror Experiment -- 3 The Ségard and Macke Experiment -- 4 Rayleigh Self-Oscillation in an Intrinsic System -- 5 Conclusion -- References -- 5 Transverse Traveling-Wave Patterns and Instabilities in Lasers -- 1 Basic Equations and Transverse Traveling-Wave Solution -- 2 Instabilities: Direct Stability Analysis and Phase Equations -- 3 Pattern Transition and Selection -- 4 Conclusion -- References -- 6 Laser-Based Optical Associative Memories -- 1 Nonlinear Dynamic Equations and Steady-State Equations -- 2 Single- and Multimode Stationary Solutions. Spatial Multistability -- 3 Operation with Injected Signal -- 4 General Description of the System -- References -- 7 Pattern and Vortex Dynamics in Photorefractive Oscillators -- 1 Pattern Formation and Complexity -- 2 Phase Singularities, Topological Defects, and Turbulence -- 3 Theory of Pattern Formation and Pattern Competition -- References -- 8 From the Hamiltonian Mechanics to a Continuous Media. Dissipative Structures. Criteria of Self-Organization -- 1 The Transition from Reversible Equations of Mechanics to Irreversible Equations of the Statistical Theory -- 2 The Unified Description of Kinetic and Hydrodynamic Motion -- 3 The Equation of Entropy Balance. The Heat Flow -- 4 Equations of Hydrodynamics with Self-Diffusion -- 5 Effect of Self-Diffusion on the Spectra of Hydrodynamic Fluctuations -- 6 The Kinetic Approach in the Theory of Self-Organization - Synergetics. Basic Mathematical Models -- 7 Kinetic and Hydrodynamic Description of the Heat Transfer in Active Medium -- 8 Kinetic Equation for Active Medium of Bistable Elements -- 9 Kinetic Fluctuations in Active Media -- 10 Natural Flicker Noise ("1/f Noise") -- 11 Criteria of Self-Organization -- 12 Conclusion. Associative Memory and Pattern Recognition -- References.