This volume, "Laser Speckle and Related Phenomena," edited by J.C. Dainty, explores the phenomenon of laser speckle and its applications. The book covers three main aspects: the statistical properties of speckle patterns, methods to reduce speckle in optical systems, and various applications of speckle patterns. The statistical properties section discusses the basic statistics of speckle patterns formed in coherent and partially coherent light, including first- and second-order statistics. The reduction of speckle in optical systems addresses techniques to minimize speckle as an unwanted background noise, such as reducing temporal and spatial coherence and using redundant holograms. The applications section covers a wide range of uses, from determining stellar diameters in astronomy to measuring displacements in mechanical engineering. The book is intended for researchers and students in physics and engineering who use lasers in optical systems, but it also appeals to scientists and engineers in other disciplines due to the broad applicability of speckle patterns.This volume, "Laser Speckle and Related Phenomena," edited by J.C. Dainty, explores the phenomenon of laser speckle and its applications. The book covers three main aspects: the statistical properties of speckle patterns, methods to reduce speckle in optical systems, and various applications of speckle patterns. The statistical properties section discusses the basic statistics of speckle patterns formed in coherent and partially coherent light, including first- and second-order statistics. The reduction of speckle in optical systems addresses techniques to minimize speckle as an unwanted background noise, such as reducing temporal and spatial coherence and using redundant holograms. The applications section covers a wide range of uses, from determining stellar diameters in astronomy to measuring displacements in mechanical engineering. The book is intended for researchers and students in physics and engineering who use lasers in optical systems, but it also appeals to scientists and engineers in other disciplines due to the broad applicability of speckle patterns.