Lasers: Basics, Advances and Applications

Description

This book provides a comprehensive overview of laser sources and their applications in various fields of science, industry, and technology. After an introduction to the basics of laser physics, different laser types and materials for lasers are summarized in the context of a historical survey, outlining the evolution of the laser over the past five decades. This includes, amongst other aspects, gas lasers, excimer lasers, the wide range of solid-state and semiconductor lasers, and femtosecond and other pulsed lasers where particular attention is paid to high-power sources. Subsequent chapters address related topics such as laser modulation and nonlinear frequency conversion. In closing, the enormous importance of the laser is demonstrated by highlighting its current applications in everyday life and its potential for future developments. Typical applications in advanced material processing, medicine and biophotonics as well as plasma and X-ray generation for nanoscale lithography are discussed. The book provides broad and topical coverage of laser photonics and opto-electronics, focusing on significant findings and recent advances rather than in-depth theoretical studies. Thus, it is intended not only for university students and engineers, but also for scientists and professionals applying lasers in biomedicine, material processing and everyday consumer products. Further, it represents essential reading for engineers using or developing high-power lasers for scientific or industrial applications. Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Front Matter ....Pages 1-1 Light, Atoms, Molecules, Solids (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 3-27 Absorption and Emission of Light (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 29-49 Laser Types (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 51-62 Front Matter ....Pages 63-63 Laser Transitions in Neutral Atoms (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 65-76 Ion Lasers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 77-88 Infrared Molecular Gas Lasers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 89-110 Ultraviolet Molecular Gas Lasers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 111-120 Dye Lasers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 121-130 Front Matter ....Pages 131-131 Solid-State Lasers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 133-164 Semiconductor Lasers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 165-203 Front Matter ....Pages 205-205 Laser Beam Propagation in Free Space (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 207-229 Optical Resonators (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 231-244 Optical Waveguides and Glass Fibers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 245-266 Front Matter ....Pages 267-267 Mirrors (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 269-287 Polarization (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 289-298 Modulation and Deflection (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 299-311 Front Matter ....Pages 313-313 Pulsed Operation (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 315-334 Frequency Selection and Tuning (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 335-348 Frequency Conversion (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 349-365 Stability and Coherence (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 367-378 Front Matter ....Pages 379-379 Photodetectors (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 381-396 Spectrometers and Interferometers (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 397-406 Front Matter ....Pages 407-407 Material Processing (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 409-421 Medical Applications and Biophotonics (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 423-458 Further Applications and Future Potential (Hans Joachim Eichler, Jürgen Eichler, Oliver Lux)....Pages 459-504 Back Matter ....Pages 505-511