The Laser Guidebook

by Hecht, Jeff

• ISBN13: 9780071359672
• ISBN10: 0071359672
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1999-09-22
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Education

Table of Contents

Preface	xiii
Introduction	1	(12)
Definition and Description of a Laser	2	(1)
Differences from Other Light Sources	3	(3)
The Laser Industry	6	(2)
An Introduction to Laser Safety	8	(2)
Overview of Laser Applications	10	(1)
Bibliography	11	(2)
A Brief History of the Laser	13	(10)
Stimulated Emission	14	(1)
The Coming of the Maser	14	(1)
Theoretical Groundwork for the Laser	15	(1)
The Race to Build a Laser	16	(1)
The Great Laser Explosion	17	(1)
Evolution of Practical Lasers	18	(2)
Current Trends	20	(1)
Bibliography	21	(2)
Laser Theory and Principles	23	(20)
Terminology	23	(1)
Energy Levels and Transitions	24	(2)
Excltation	26	(1)
Stimulated and Spontaneous Emission	27	(1)
Population Inversions	28	(1)
Amplification and Oscillation	29	(3)
Resonators, Modes, and Beam Quality	32	(5)
Linewidth and Tuning	37	(1)
Coherence and Speckle	38	(2)
Efficiency Limitations	40	(1)
Output Power	40	(1)
Time Scales of Operation	41	(1)
Bibliography	42	(1)
Enhancements to Laser Operation	43	(16)
Wavelength Enhancements	43	(7)
Changing Pulse Length	50	(6)
Amplification	56	(1)
Bibliography	56	(3)
External Optics and Their Functions	59	(32)
Transmissive Optics	60	(8)
Transmissive Materials	68	(7)
Filters and Coatings	75	(4)
Reflective Optics	79	(2)
Diffractive Optics	81	(2)
Special Components and Techniques	83	(3)
Active Optical Components	86	(3)
Bibliography	89	(2)
Variations on the Laser Theme: A Classification of Major Types	91	(10)
Gas Lasers	91	(5)
Solid-State Lasers	96	(1)
Semiconductor Lasers	97	(1)
Liquid Lasers	98	(1)
Laboratory Developments	98	(1)
Bibliography	98	(3)
Helium-Neon Lasers	101	(20)
Internal Workings	102	(4)
Beam Characteristics	106	(4)
Operating Requirements	110	(2)
Reliability and Maintenance	112	(1)
Commercial Devices	113	(3)
Applications	116	(3)
Bibliography	119	(2)
Noble Gas Ion Lasers	121	(24)
Introduction and Description	122	(4)
Internal Structure	126	(4)
Inherent Trade-Offs	130	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	131	(1)
Beam Characteristics	131	(3)
Operating Requirements	134	(4)
Reliability and Maintenance	138	(1)
Commercial Devices	139	(3)
Applications	142	(1)
Bibliography	143	(2)
Helium-Cadmium Lasers	145	(14)
Internal Workings	145	(3)
Internal Structure	148	(2)
Inherent Trade-Offs	150	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	150	(1)
Beam Characteristics	151	(2)
Operating Requirements	153	(2)
Reliability and Maintenance	155	(1)
Commercial Devices	156	(1)
Applications	156	(1)
Bibliography	157	(2)
Carbon Dioxide Lasers	159	(26)
Internal Workings	159	(2)
Internal Structure	161	(7)
Inherent Trade-Offs	168	(1)
Beam Characteristics	169	(5)
Operating Requirements	174	(3)
Reliability and Maintenance	177	(1)
Commercial Laser Systems	178	(3)
Applications	181	(2)
Bibliography	183	(2)
Chemical Lasers	185	(12)
Internal Workings	186	(2)
Internal Structure	188	(2)
Beam Characteristics	190	(2)
Operating Requirements	192	(2)
Reliability and Maintenance	194	(1)
Commercial Devices	194	(1)
Bibliography	195	(2)
Copper and Gold Vapor Lasers	197	(14)
Internal Workings	198	(2)
Internal Structure	200	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	201	(1)
Beam Characteristics	202	(3)
Operating Requirements	205	(1)
Reliability and Maintenance	206	(1)
Commercial Devices	207	(1)
Applications	207	(2)
Bibliography	209	(2)
Excimer Lasers	211	(24)
Introduction and Description	212	(6)
Beam Characteristics	218	(6)
Operating Requirements	224	(4)
Reliability and Maintenance	228	(2)
Commercial Devices	230	(2)
Applications	232	(2)
Bibliography	234	(1)
Nitrogen Lasers	235	(6)
Internal Workings and Structure	235	(2)
Operating Requirements	237	(2)
Reliability and Maintenance	239	(1)
Commercial Devices	239	(1)
Applications	239	(1)
Bibliography	240	(1)
Far-Infrared Gas Lasers	241	(14)
Internal Workings	242	(2)
Internal Structure	244	(2)
Variations and Types Covered	246	(1)
Beam Characteristics	247	(1)
Operating Requirements	248	(1)
Reliability and Maintenance	249	(1)
Commercial Devices	250	(2)
Applications	252	(1)
Bibliography	252	(3)
Other Commercial Gas Lasers	255	(8)
Carbon Monoxide Lasers	255	(2)
Nitrous Oxide Lasers	257	(2)
Xenon-Helium Lasers	259	(1)
Visible Xenon Lasers	260	(1)
Iodine Lasers	261	(1)
Bibliography	262	(1)
Dye Lasers	263	(34)
Internal Workings	264	(4)
Internal Structure	268	(6)
Inherent Trade-Offs	274	(3)
Variations and Types Covered	277	(1)
Beam Characteristics	277	(8)
Operating Requirements	285	(3)
Reliability and Maintenance	288	(2)
Commercial Devices	290	(4)
Applications	294	(1)
Bibliography	295	(2)
Semiconductor Diode Lasers-Structures	297	(28)
Description	298	(1)
Internal Workings	299	(3)
Internal Structure	302	(20)
Semiconductor Laser Amplifiers	322	(1)
Bibliography	323	(2)
Short-Wavelength Semiconductor Diode Lasers	325	(30)
Active Media	326	(4)
Internal Structure	330	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	330	(3)
Research Thrusts	333	(1)
Beam Characteristics	334	(9)
Operating Requirements	343	(4)
Reliability and Maintenance	347	(1)
Commercial Devices	348	(1)
Applications	349	(2)
Bibliography	351	(4)
Long-Wavelength III-V Semiconductor Diode Lasers	355	(20)
Active Medium	356	(2)
Internal Structure	358	(1)
Research Thrusts	359	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	360	(1)
Beam Characteristics	360	(6)
Operating Requirements	366	(4)
Reliability and Maintenance	370	(1)
Commercial Devices	371	(1)
Applications	372	(1)
Bibliography	373	(2)
Lead Salt Semiconductor Diode Lasers	375	(14)
Internal Workings	375	(1)
Internal Structure	376	(2)
Inherent Trade-Offs	378	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	378	(1)
Beam Characteristics	378	(4)
Operating Requirements	382	(2)
Reliability and Maintenance	384	(1)
Commercial Devices	384	(1)
Applications	385	(1)
Bibliography	386	(3)
Neodymium Lasers	389	(30)
Active Medium	389	(3)
Energy Transfer	392	(2)
Internal Structure	394	(2)
Inherent Trade-Offs	396	(1)
Research Directions	397	(1)
Variations and Types Covered	397	(1)
Beam Characteristics	398	(8)
Operating Requirements	406	(5)
Reliability and Maintenance	411	(2)
Commercial Devices	413	(1)
Applications	414	(2)
Bibliography	416	(3)
Ruby Lasers	419	(6)
Internal Workings	419	(1)
Internal Structure	420	(1)
Beam Characteristics	421	(1)
Operating Requirements	422	(1)
Reliability and Maintenance	423	(1)
Commercial Devices	423	(1)
Applications	424	(1)
Bibliography	424	(1)
Tunable Vibronic Solid-State Lasers	425	(22)
Introduction and Description	426	(1)
Internal Workings and Structure	427	(7)
Research Trends and Types Covered	434	(2)
Beam Characteristics	436	(5)
Operating Requirements	441	(2)
Commercial Devices	443	(1)
Applications	444	(1)
Bibliography	445	(2)
Color-Center Lasers	447	(10)
Internal Workings	447	(3)
Internal Structure	450	(2)
Variations and Types Covered	452	(1)
Beam Characteristics	452	(1)
Operating Requirements	453	(2)
Reliability and Maintenance	455	(1)
Commercial Devices	455	(1)
Applications	456	(1)
Bibliography	456	(1)
Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers	457	(12)
Introduction and Description	458	(1)
Fiber Amplifier Structures and Hosts	459	(1)
Erbium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers	460	(5)
Neodymium-Doped Fiber Amplifiers	465	(2)
Bibliography	467	(2)
Other Solid-State Lasers	469	(6)
Erbium-Glass Lasers	470	(1)
Crystalline Erbium Lasers	471	(1)
Holmium Lasers	472	(1)
Thulium Lasers	473	(1)
Bibliography	473	(2)
Free-Electron Lasers	475	(8)
Fundamental Concepts	475	(2)
Types of Free-Electron Lasers	477	(1)
Components of Free-Electron Lasers	478	(2)
Optical Cavities and Beam Characteristics	480	(1)
Applications	480	(1)
Bibliography	481	(2)
X-Ray Lasers	483	(4)
Bomb-Driven X-Ray Lasers	483	(1)
Laboratory X-Ray Lasers	484	(1)
Applications	485	(1)
Bibliography	486	(1)
Appendix. Types of Lasers	487	(2)
Index	489