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<p>Preface ix</p> <p>Acknowledgments xi</p> <p><b>Chapter 1 An Overview of Laser Technology 1</b></p> <p>1.1 What are Lasers Used For? 2</p> <p>1.2 Lasers in Telecommunications 3</p> <p>1.3 Lasers in Research and Medicine 4</p> <p>1.4 Lasers in Graphics and Grocery Stores 4</p> <p>1.5 Lasers in the Military 5</p> <p>1.6 Other Laser Applications 5</p> <p>Chapter 2 The Nature of Light 7</p> <p>2.1 Electromagnetic Waves 7</p> <p>2.2 Wave-Particle Duality 10</p> <p><b>Chapter 3 Refractive Index, Polarization, and Brightness 17</b></p> <p>3.1 Light Propagation—Refractive Index 17</p> <p>3.2 Huygens' Principle 21</p> <p>3.3 Polarization 24</p> <p>3.4 Polarization Components 27</p> <p>3.5 Birefringence 30</p> <p>3.6 Brewster's Angle 36</p> <p>3.7 Brightness 41</p> <p><b>Chapter 4 Interference 43</b></p> <p>4.1 What is Optical Interference? 43</p> <p>4.2 Everyday Examples of Optical Interference 45</p> <p>4.3 Young's Double-Slit Experiment 46</p> <p>4.4 Fabry-Perot Interferometer 49</p> <p><b>Chapter 5 Laser Light 55</b></p> <p>5.1 Monochromaticity 55</p> <p>5.2 Directionality 56</p> <p>5.3 Coherence 60</p> <p><b>Chapter 6 Atoms, Molecules, and Energy Levels 63</b></p> <p>6.1 Atomic Energy Levels 63</p> <p>6.2 Spontaneous Emission and Stimulated Emission 65</p> <p>6.3 Molecular Energy Levels 66</p> <p>6.4 Some Subtle Refinements 64</p> <p><b>Chapter 7 Energy Distributions and Laser Action 73</b></p> <p>7.1 Boltzmann Distribution 73</p> <p>7.2 Population Inversion 76</p> <p>7.3 L.A.S.E.R. 79</p> <p>7.4 Three-Level and Four-Level Lasers 82</p> <p>7.5 Pumping Mechanisms 83</p> <p><b>Chapter 8 Laser Resonators 87</b></p> <p>8.1 Why a Resonator? 87</p> <p>8.2 Circulating Power 88</p> <p>8.3 Gain and Loss 90</p> <p>8.4 Another Perspective on Saturation 91</p> <p>8.5 Relaxation Oscillations 93</p> <p>8.6 Oscillator-Amplifiers 94</p> <p>8.7 Unstable Resonators 95</p> <p>8.8 Laser Mirrors 95</p> <p><b>Chapter 9 Resonator Modes 99</b></p> <p>9.1 Spatial Energy Distributions 99</p> <p>9.2 Transverse Resonator Modes 100</p> <p>9.3 Gaussian-Beam Propagation 101</p> <p>9.4 A Stability Criterion 107</p> <p>9.5 Longitudinal Modes 109</p> <p><b>Chapter 10 Reducing Laser Bandwidth 113</b></p> <p>10.1 Measuring Laser Bandwidth 113</p> <p>10.2 Laser-Broadening Mechanisms 116</p> <p>10.3 Reducing Laser Bandwidth 118</p> <p>10.4 Single-Mode Lasers 122</p> <p><b>Chapter 11 Q-S witching 129</b></p> <p>11.1 Measuring the Output of Pulsed Lasers 129</p> <p>11.2 Q-Switching 135</p> <p>11.3 Types of Q-S witches 135</p> <p>11.4 Mechanical Q-Switches 135</p> <p>11.5 A-0 Q-Switches 136</p> <p>11.6 E-O Q-Switches 138</p> <p>11.7 Dye Q-Switches 140</p> <p><b>Chapter 12 Cavity Dumping and Modelocking 143</b></p> <p>12.1 Cavity Dumping 143</p> <p>12.2 Partial Cavity Dumping 147</p> <p>12.3 Modelocking—Time Domain 147</p> <p>12.4 Modelocking—Frequency Domain 151</p> <p>12.5 Applications of Modelocked Lasers 152</p> <p>12.6 Types of Modelocked Lasers 153</p> <p><b>Chapter 13 Nonlinear Optics 155</b></p> <p>13.1 What is Nonlinear Optics? 155</p> <p>13.2 Second-Harmonic Generation 158</p> <p>13.3 Birefringent Phase Matching 161</p> <p>13.4 Quasi-Phasematching 165</p> <p>13.5 Intracavity Harmonic Generation 168</p> <p>13.6 Higher Harmonics 169</p> <p>13.7 Optical Parametric Oscillation 170</p> <p>13.8 Raman lasers 172</p> <p><b>Chapter 14 Semiconductor Lasers 175</b></p> <p>14.1 Semiconductor Physics 175</p> <p>14.2 Modern Diode Lasers 181</p> <p>14.3 Diode Laser Bandwidth 182</p> <p>14.4 Wavelength of Diode Lasers 183</p> <p>14.5 Diode Arrays and Stacks 185</p> <p>14.6 Vertical Cavity, Surface-Emitting Lasers 185</p> <p>14.7 Optically Pumped Semiconductor Lasers 187</p> <p>14.8 Quantum Cascade Lasers 189</p> <p><b>Chapter 15 Solid-State Lasers 191</b></p> <p>15.1 Solid-State Laser Materials 191</p> <p>15.2 Diode-Pumped Solid State Lasers 195</p> <p>15.2.1 Diode-Pumping Geometry 199</p> <p>15.2.2 Pump Diodes, Pulsing, and Packaging 199</p> <p>15.3 Lamp Pumping 201</p> <p>15.4 Thermal Issues in Solid-State Lasers 205</p> <p>15.5 Scaling Diode-Pumped Lasers to High Power 207</p> <p><b>Chapter 16 Fiber Lasers 215</b></p> <p>16.1 Acceptance Angle and Numerical Aperture 215</p> <p>16.2 Doping Optical Fibers 216</p> <p>16.3 Pumping Fiber Lasers 217</p> <p>16.4 Fabricating Optical Fibers 218</p> <p>16.5 Feedback for Fiber Lasers 219</p> <p>16.6 High Power Fiber Lasers 220</p> <p>16.7 Large-Mode-Area Fibers 221</p> <p>16.8 Holey Fibers 222</p> <p><b>Chapter 17 Gas lasers: Helium-Neon and Ion 225</b></p> <p>17.1 Gas-Laser Transitions 226</p> <p>17.2 Gas-Laser Media and Tubes 227</p> <p>17.3 Laser Excitation 229</p> <p>17.4 Optical Characteristics 230</p> <p>17.5 Wavelengths and Spectral Width 230</p> <p>17.6 He-Ne Lasers 232</p> <p>17.7 Principles of He-Ne Lasers 232</p> <p>17.8 Structure of He-Ne Lasers 234</p> <p>17.9 Ar-and Kr-Ion Lasers 235</p> <p><b>Chapter 18 Carbon Dioxide and Other Vibrational Lasers 239</b></p> <p>18.1 Vibrational Transitions 240</p> <p>18.2 Excitation 242</p> <p>18.3 Types of CO2 Lasers 243</p> <p>18.4 Optics for CO2 Lasers 246</p> <p>18.5 Chemical Lasers 246</p> <p><b>Chapter 19 Excimer Lasers 249</b></p> <p>19.1 Excimer Molecules 251</p> <p>19.2 Electrical Considerations 253</p> <p>19.3 Handling the Gases 255</p> <p>19.4 Applications of Excimer Lasers 259</p> <p><b>Chapter 20 Tunable and Ultrafast Lasers 263</b></p> <p>20.1 Dye Lasers 265</p> <p>20.2 Tunable Solid-State Lasers 268</p> <p>20.3 Nonlinear Converters 271</p> <p>20.4 Ultrafast Lasers 274</p> <p>Glossary 283</p> <p>Further Reading 291</p> <p>Index 293</p>

<p><b>C. Breck Hitz</b> is Executive Director of LEOMA, the Laser and Electro-Optics Manufacturers' Association. He was the founding editor of <i>Lasers & Applications</i> magazine, and a former editor of <i>Laser Focus World</i>.</p> <p><b>J. J. Ewing</b> is the President of Ewing Technology Associates, Inc. His pioneering work on high-efficiency, ultraviolet lasers led to the discovery and development of the rare gas halide excimer lasers.</p> <p><b>Jeff Hecht</b> is a contributing editor to <i>Laser Focus World</i> and correspondent for <i>New Scientist</i> magazine. He was a cofounder and contributing editor to Lasers & Applications. Mr. Hecht is the author of ten books, including <i>Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide</i> (Wiley-IEEE Press).</p>

<p><b>The only introductory text on the market today that explains the underlying physics and engineering applicable to all lasers</b></p> <p>Although lasers are becoming increasingly important in our high-tech environment, many of the technicians and engineers who install, operate, and maintain them have had little, if any, formal training in the field of electro-optics. This can result in less efficient usage of these important tools.</p> <p><i>Introduction to Laser Technology</i>, Fourth Edition provides readers with a good understanding of what a laser is and what it can and cannot do. The book explains what types of laser to use for different purposes and how a laser can be modified to improve its performance in a given application. With a unique combination of clarity and technical depth, the book explains the characteristics and important applications of commercial lasers worldwide and discusses light and optics, the fundamental elements of lasers, and laser modification.?</p> <p>In addition to new chapter-end problems, the <i>Fourth Edition</i> includes new and expanded chapter material on:</p> <ul> <li> <p>Material and wavelength</p> </li> <li> <p>Diode Laser Arrays</p> </li> <li> <p>Quantum-cascade lasers</p> </li> <li> <p>Fiber lasers</p> </li> <li> <p>Thin-disk and slab lasers</p> </li> <li> <p>Ultrafast fiber lasers</p> </li> <li> <p>Raman lasers</p> </li> <li> <p>Quasi-phase matching</p> </li> <li> <p>Optically pumped semiconductor lasers</p> </li> </ul> <p><i>Introduction to Laser Technology</i>, Fourth Edition is an excellent book for students, technicians, engineers, and other professionals seeking a fuller, more formal introduction to the field of laser technology.</p>

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