Updated to reflect advancements since the publication of the previous edition, Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide, 3rd Edition is an introduction to lasers and associated equipment. You need only a minimal background in algebra to understand the nontechnical language in this book, which is a practical, easy-to-follow guide for beginners. By studying the conceptual drawings, tables, and multiple-choice quizzes with answers provided at the back of the book you can understand applications of semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, and gas lasers for information processing, medicine, communications, industry, and military systems.
Autorentext
Jeff Hecht is a science and technology writer who has covered the laser industry for more than thirty years. He cofounded Lasers & Optronics magazine and has been a contributing editor to Laser Focus World since 1991, where he was also managing editor for seven years. He has been a Boston correspondent for New Scientist magazine since 1984 and is the author of eleven books. He has taught short courses on optics at SPIE, OSA, and IEEE LEOS conferences. He is a member of the IEEE, APS, OSA, and the National Association of Science Writers.
Klappentext
An up-to-date and easy-to-follow introduction to laser technology
Laser technology has become important in a wide range of practical applications, ranging from medicine and consumer electronics to telecommunications and military technology. Lasers are also vital tools on the cutting edge of researcheighteen recipients of the Nobel Prize received the award for laser-related research, including the laser itself, holography, laser cooling, and Bose-Einstein condensates.
Updated to reflect advancements since publication of the previous edition, Understanding Lasers, Third Edition offers an introduction to lasers and associated equipment at a level that nontechnicians can fundamentally understand. The author focuses on real-world lasers and assumes only a minimal background in algebra, making the book a practical, easy-to-follow guide for a broad audience.
Beginning with an overview of how lasers work, what they do, and how they're used, the book goes on to explore:
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Optics and laser accessories
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Semiconductor diode lasers
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Gas lasers
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Low-power laser applications
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Solid-state and fiber lasers
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High-power laser applications
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Lasers in research
Complete with conceptual drawings, tables, and multiple-choice quizzes with answers provided at the back of the book, Understanding Lasers, Third Edition serves as an ideal introduction to the subject for advanced high school students, undergraduate physics and engineering students, and professionals who work with lasers but lack formal training.
Zusammenfassung
Updated to reflect advancements since the publication of the previous edition, Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide, 3rd Edition is an introduction to lasers and associated equipment. You need only a minimal background in algebra to understand the nontechnical language in this book, which is a practical, easy-to-follow guide for beginners. By studying the conceptual drawings, tables, and multiple-choice quizzes with answers provided at the back of the book you can understand applications of semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, and gas lasers for information processing, medicine, communications, industry, and military systems.
Inhalt
Preface xi
CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Overview 1
1.1 The Idea of the Laser 1
1.2 What is a Laser? 3
1.3 Laser Materials and Types 7
1.4 Optical Properties of Laser Light 10
1.5 How Lasers are Used 15
1.6 What Have We Learned? 17
CHAPTER 2 Physical Basics 21
2.1 Electromagnetic Waves and Photons 21
2.2 Quantum and Classical Physics 29
2.3 Interactions of Light and Matter 41
2.4 Basic Optics and Simple Lenses 49
2.5 What Have We Learned? 55
CHAPTER 3 How Lasers Work 59
3.1 Building a Laser 59
3.2 Producing a Population Inversion 60
3.3 Resonant Cavities 66
3.4 Laser Beams and Resonance 73
3.5 Wavelength Selection and Tuning 81
3.6 Laser Excitation Techniques 84
3.7 What Have We Learned? 88
CHAPTER 4 Laser Characteristics 93
4.1 Coherence 93
4.2 Laser Wavelengths 96
4.3 Behavior of Laser Beams 101
4.4 Laser Power 105
4.5 Laser Efficiency 108
4.6 Duration of Emission 113
4.7 Polarization 117
4.8 What Have We Learned? 119
CHAPTER 5 Optics and Laser Accessories 125
5.1 Classical Optical Devices 125
5.2 Transparent Optical Materials 136
5.3 Optical Surfaces, Coatings and Filters 137
5.4 Nonlinear Optics 141
5.5 Beam Intensity and Pulse Control 145
5.6 Beam Direction and Propagation 151
5.7 Mounting and Positioning Equipment 153
5.8 Optical Measurement 155
5.9 What Have We Learned? 157
CHAPTER 6 Types of Lasers 161
6.1 Laser Oscillators and Optical Amplifiers 161
6.2 Laser Media 166
6.3 The Importance of Gain 173
6.4 Broadband and Wavelength-Tunable Lasers 175
6.5 Laser-Like Light Sources 178
6.6 What Have We Learned? 180
CHAPTER 7 Gas Lasers 185
7.1 The Gas Laser Family 185
7.2 Gas-Laser Basics 186
7.3 Helium-Neon Lasers 193
7.4 Argon- and Krypton-Ion Lasers 197
7.5 Metal-Vapor Lasers 200
7.6 Carbon Dioxide Laser 203
7.7 Excimer Lasers 208
7.8 Chemical Lasers 212
7.9 Other Gas Lasers 215
7.10 What Have We Learned? 216
CHAPTER 8 Solid-State and Fiber Lasers 223
8.1 What is a Solid-State Laser? 223
8.2 Solid-State Laser Materials 225
8.3 Optical Pumping 230
8.4 Ruby Lasers 234
8.5 Neodymium Lasers 237
8.6 Vibronic and Tunable Solid-State Lasers 243
8.7 Erbium and Other Eye-Safe Lasers 249
8.8 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Lasers 250
8.9 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Amplifiers 256
8.10 Raman Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers 258
8.11 What Have We Learned? 259
CHAPTER 9 Semiconductor Diode Lasers 265
9.1 Basics of Semiconductor Diode Lasers 265
9.2 Semiconductor Basics 267
9.3 Light Emission at Junctions 276
9.4 Layers and Confinement in Diode Lasers 281
9.5 Confinement in the Junction Plane 286
9.6 Edge-Emitting Diode Lasers 290
9.7 Surface-Emitting Diode Lasers 294
9.8 Quantum Wells and Dots 297
9.9 Quantum Cascade Lasers 298
9.10 Optical Properties of Diode Lasers 300
9.11 Diode Laser Materials and Wavelengths 302
9.12 Silicon Lasers 308
9.13 Packaging and Specialization of Diode Lasers 309
9.14 What Have We Learned? 312
CHAPTER 10 Other Lasers and Related Sources 317
10.1 Tunable Dye Lasers 317
10.2 Extreme-Ultraviolet Sources 323
10.3 Free-Electron Lasers 328
10.4 Silicon Lasers 332
10.5 What Have We Learned? 334
CHAPTER 11 Low-Power Laser Applications 339
11.1 Advantages of Laser Light 340
11.2 Reading with Lasers 341
11.3 Optical Disks and Data Storage 344
11.4 Laser Printing and Marking 347
11.5 Fiber-Optic Communications 350
11.6 Laser Measurement 355
11.7 Laser Pointers, Art, and Entertainment 359
11.8 Low-Power Defense Applications 361
11.9 Sensing and Spectroscopy 363
11.10 Holography 369
11.11 Other Low-Power Applications 372
11.12 What Have We Learned? 372
CHAPTER 12…