PART ONE LASER PRINCIPLES 1
Chapter 1 Fundamentals of Lasers 3
1.1 The Nature of Light 3
1.2 Emission and Absorption 12
1.3 Population Inversion 15
1.4 The Ammonia Maser 21
1.5 The First Laser 24
Chapter 2 Properties of Laser Beams 32
2.1 Monochromaticity 32
2.2 Coherence 34
2.3 Directionality 49
2.4 Brightness 52
2.5 Short Time Duration 55
Chapter 3 Laser Oscillation in Optical Resonator 60
3.1 Resonators 60
3.2 Basic Characteristics of the Resonator 61
3.3 Basic Laser Characteristics 65
3.4 Types of the Resonator 75
Chapter 4 Types of Lasers 82
4.1 A Laser Exposition.Pumping Methods 82
4.2 Solid State Lasers 85
4.3 Organic Dye Lasers 95
4.4 Photodissociation Lasers 98
4.5 Ion and Atomic Lasers 100
4.6 Molecular Lasers 109
4.7 Electroionization Lasers 115
4.8 Gas Dynamic Lasers 119
4.9 Chemical Lasers 123
4.10 Plasma Lasers 128
4.11 Semiconductor Lasers 131
4.12 X-Ray Lasers 140
4.13 Free-Electron Laser(FEL) 141
References 150
PART TWO CONTROL OF THE LASER OUTPUT 151
Chapter 5 Control of the Laser Output 153
5.1 The Electro-Optic Effect 153
5.2 Q-Switching 160
5.3 Modulation of the Laser Output 168
5.4 Deflection of the Laser Output 176
5.5 Frequency Doubling 178
5.6 Frequency Stabilization of the Laser Output 181
5.7 Cavity Dumping 183
5.8 Mode Locking for Ultrashort Pulses 184
5.9 Intracavity Control of Spectral Characteristics 190
References 199
PART THREE NONLINEAR OPTICS 201
Chapter 6 Nonlinear Optical Effects 203
6.1 Nonlinear Polarization of the Medium 203
6.2 Interaction of the Light Waves in Nonlinear Media 204
6.3 Second Harmonic Generation in Nonlinear Crystals 206
6.4 Fourth Harmonic Generation 209
6.5 Optic Harmonic Generators 210
6.6 Parametric Oscillation 212
6.7 Stimulated Raman Effect 215
6.8 Stimulated Brillouin Scattering 217
6.9 Self-Focusing 219
Chapter 7 Optical Phase Conjugation 225
7.1 What a Phase-Conjugated Wave Is 225
7.2 Ways of Generating a Phase-Conjugated Wave 230
7.3 What Is OPC For 244
References 261
PART FOUR APPLICATIONS OF LASERS 263
Chapter 8 Material Working 265
8.1 Effects of Strong Laser Radiation on Materials 265
8.2 Laser Welding 267
8.3 Laser Heat Treatment 269
8.4 Laser Cutting 270
8.5 Drilling and Perforating Holes 271
8.6 Microelectronic Applications 272
Chapter 9 Measurement with a Laser 275
9.1 Alignment 275
9.2 Measurement of Distance 279
9.3 Measurement of Velocity 289
9.4 Measurement of Rotation 291
Chapter 10 Laser Radar 302
10.1 LADAR Reception 302
10.2 LADAR Detection Models 303
Chapter 11 Optical Communications 308
11.1 Development of Fiber Optical Communication 308
11.2 Comparison of Free Space Communication and RF Communication 324
11.3 Progress on the Development of the Optical Communications Demonstrator 335
11.4 Optical Communications Terminals for Multi-Media Applications 349
11.5 Database，Status and Trends 357
Chapter 12 Holography 362
12.1 Diffuse Object Illumination 368
12.2 Speckle Pattern 369
12.3 Simple Mathematical Analysis of Holography 370
12.4 Image Magnification 372
12.5 Fourier Transform Holography 374
12.6 Resolution in Holography 375
12.7 Aberrations in Holography 380
12.8 Thick Holograms and Coloured Reconstructions 380
12.9 The Efficiency of Holograms 383
12.10 Practical Holography 384
12.11 Applications of Holography 390
13.1 Lasers in Medicine 408
Chapter 13 Other Applications of Lasers 408
13.2 Isotope Separation 410
13.3 Thermonuclear Fusion 412
13.4 Applications of X-ray Lasers 415
13.5 Applications of Diode-Pumped Ultra-Short-Pulse Solid-State Lasers 425
References 434
PART FIVE EXAMPLES OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL PAPERS 435
Example 1 Enhanced Beam Characteristics of a Discharge-pumped Soft-X-Ray Amplifier by an Axial Magnet-ic field 437
References 450
Example 2 Phase-Conjugating Stimulated Brillouin Scattering Mirror for Low Powers and Refleetivities above 90 136n an Internally Tapered Optical Fiber 452
References 460
Example 3 Light Speed Reduction to 17 Metres Per Second in an Ultracold Atomic Gas 461
References 477