Modern Laser Ceramics : First 10 years research and Applications

This first and long awaited book on laser ceramics provides a comprehensive summary of this hot topic. Written by leading authorities in the field, an introduction to and history of laser ceramics is followed by sections on their fabrication and physics, as well as laser properties and a concluding look at future prospects.

Ken-ichi Ueda received the B.S. and M.S. degree from Osaka University, and Dr. Sci. from Tokyo University in 1977. After working in R&D center of JEOL and the Physic Department of Sophia University in Tokyo, He joined to the Institute for Laser Science at the University of Electro-Communications in 1981. He became a full professor in 1990. He is the director of ILS/UEC since 1996. He is a scientific leader on laser development of many programs for gravitational wave detection, inertial fusion energy, and others. He developed wide variety of lasers, excimer lasers, solid-state lasers and fiber lasers for scientific research programs and industrial applications. He has worked very hard as a topical editor and an editor-in-chief of international journals like Applied Optics, Optical Review, Laser Physics Letters and so on. He published more than 400 papers in the international journals.

Hideki Yagi. He received the M.S. degree from Nagaoka University of Technology, Nagaoka, Japan, in 1994. Since 1994, he has been with Konoshima Chemical Company Ltd., Japan, working on a research project aimed at developing highly transparent ceramics for use as optical and laser materials. His main research work is focused on developing highly transparent ceramics and ceramic lasers. He published more than 50 papers in the international journals.

Takagimi Yanagitani. He received the M.S. degree in science from Yamaguchi University, Yamaguchi, Japan, and the Ph.D. degree from Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan, in 1997. He joined the Konoshima Chemical Campany, Ltd., in 1985. From 1986 to 1988, he was seconded to National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials. His main research work is focused on developing highly transparent ceramics and rare-earth-doped ceramic materials. He published more than 60 papers in the international journals.

Alexander A. Kaminskii. He received his first (PhD) and second doctor degree and a full professor diploma in solid-state physics from the Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences in 1965, 1974, and 1981, respectively. In 1961 he joined the quantum electronics laboratory at the Nuclear Physics Institute of Moscow State University headed by Nobel Prize Laureate Prof. Alexander M. Prokhorov. In 1965 he joined the Institute of Crystallography of the Russian Academy of Sciences, where he currently leads the laser crystal physics laboratory. His research interests cover many aspects of the physics and spectroscopy of laser crystalline materials. In 1994, he was also appointed as a Director of the Joint Open Laboratory for laser crystals and precise laser systems under the auspices of the Russian Academy of Sciences. In 2006 Alexander A. Kaminskii was awarded with the full membership of the Russian Academy of Science.
Alexander A. Kaminskii is a member of the board of the journals Physica Status Solidi, Material Science, and Laser Physics Review. He published five books and more than 740 papers in the field of physics and spectroscopy of laser crystalline materials.