Written from an industrial perspective, Solid-State Laser Engineering discusses in detail the characteristics, design, construction, and performance of solid-state lasers. Emphasis is placed on engineering and practical considerations; phenomenological aspects using models are preferred to abstract mathematical derivations. Since its first edition almost 30 years ago this book has become the standard in the field of solid-state lasers for scientists,engineers and graduate students.

This new edition has been extensively revised and updated to account for recent developments in the areas of diode-laser pumping, laser materials and nonlinear crystals. Completely new sections have been added dealing with frequency control, the theory of mode-locking, femto second lasers, high efficiency harmonic generation, passive and acousto-optic Q-switching, semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors (SESAM) and peridically poled nonlinear crystals.

Walter Koechner received a doctorate in electrical engineering from the University of Technology in Vienna, Austria, in 1965. He has published numerous papers in the fields of solid-state lasers, optics and solid-state physics. Dr. Koechner is founder of Fibertek, Inc., a research company specializing in the design, development and production of advanced solid-state lasers, optical radars, and remote sensing systems.

Written from an industrial perspective this book discusses in detail the characteristics, design, construction, and performance of solid-state lasers. Emphasis is placed on engineering and practical considerations; phenomenological aspects using models are preferred to abstract mathematical derivations. Since its first edition almost 30 years ago this book has become the standard in the field of solid-state lasers for scientists, engineers and graduate students. This edition has been extensively revised and updated to account for recent developments in the areas of diode-laser pumping, laser materials and nonlinear crystals, and entire new sections have been added.

Energy Transfer Between Radiation and Atomic Transitions.- Properties of Solid-State Laser Materials.- Laser Oscillator.- Laser Amplifier.- Optical Resonator.- Optical Pump Systems.- Thermo-Optic Effects.- Q-Switching.- Mode Locking.- Nonlinear Devices.- Damage of Optical Elements.