Synopses & Reviews
Electrical Engineering/Optoelectronics/General Interest Understanding Lasers An Entry-Level Guide, Second Edition IEEE Press Understanding Science & Technology Series This updated, concise second edition of Jeff Hechts Understanding Lasers, is both current and easy to understand. Written for students, managers, non-specialist engineers, and anyone who wants an accessible introduction to laser technology, this book provides practical, intuitive descriptions of the workings of major types of lasers and their applications. Key topics include:
- Semiconductor lasers
- Solid-state lasers
- Gas lasers
- Laser applications in information processing, medicine, communications, industry, and military systems
Understanding Lasers will be of interest to those in computers, communications, medicine, and industry, and those who want to better understand the growth and impact of laser technology on our future. Also in the IEEE Press Understanding Science & Technology Series Understanding Telecommunications and Lightwave Systems An Entry-Level Guide by John G. Nellist, Consultant, Sarita Enterprises, Ltd. 1992 Softcover 200 pp IEEE Order No. PP0314-5 ISBN 0-7803-0418-7 Understanding the Nervous System An Engineering Perspective by Sid Deutsch, University of South Florida and Alice Deutsch, Bioscreen, Inc. 1993 Softcover 408 pp IEEE Order No. PP0291-5 ISBN 0-87942-296-3 About the Series
The IEEE Press Understanding Series treats important topics in science and technology in a simple and easy-to-understand manner. Designed expressly for the nonspecialist engineer, scientist, or technician as well as the technologically curious each volume stresses practical information over mathematical theorems and complicated derivations.
Synopsis
This updated edition is both accurate and easy to understand. Written for students, hobbyists, non-specialist engineers and anyone who wants an entry-level introduction to laser technology, this book provides practical, intuitive descriptions of the workings of major types of lasers and their applications. Key topics include: semiconductor lasers...solid-state lasers...gas lasers...laser applications in information processing, medicine, communications, industry and military systems. Clear, succinct, and amply illustrated, this book makes an ideal learning tool and a valuable reference for technical and nontechnical readers alike.
Synopsis
In Understanding Lasers, Third Editionwell-known science writer Jeff Hecht provides a thorough understanding of laser technology in an up-to-date and easy-to-understand tutorial for non-specialists who have no formal training in the field. Key topics include: semiconductor lasers; solid-state lasers; gas lasers; and laser applications in information processing, medicine, communications, industry, and military systems. Clear, succinct, and amply illustrated, this book makes an ideal learning tool and a valuable reference.
Synopsis
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:
Optics and laser accessories
Semiconductor diode lasers
Gas lasers
Low-power laser applications
Solid-state and fiber lasers
High-power laser applications
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.
Synopsis
Updated to reflect advancements since the publication of the previous edition, Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide, 3rd Editionis 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.
About the Author
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.
Table of Contents
Preface.
CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Overview.
1.1 The Idea of the Laser.
1.2 What is a Laser?
1.3 Laser Materials and Types.
1.4 Optical Properties of Laser Light.
1.5 How Lasers are Used.
1.6 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 2 Physical Basics.
2.1 Electromagnetic Waves and Photons.
2.2 Quantum and Classical Physics.
2.3 Interactions of Light and Matter.
2.4 Basic Optics and Simple Lenses.
2.5 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 3 How Lasers Work.
3.1 Building a Laser.
3.2 Producing a Population Inversion.
3.3 Resonant Cavities.
3.4 Laser Beams and Resonance.
3.5 Wavelength Selection and Tuning.
3.6 Laser Excitation Techniques.
3.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 4 Laser Characteristics.
4.1 Coherence.
4.2 Laser Wavelengths.
4.3 Behavior of Laser Beams.
4.4 Laser Power.
4.5 Laser Efficiency.
4.6 Duration of Emission.
4.7 Polarization.
4.8 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 5 Optics and Laser Accessories.
5.1 Classical Optical Devices.
5.2 Transparent Optical Materials.
5.3 Optical Surfaces, Coatings and Filters.
5.4 Nonlinear Optics.
5.5 Beam Intensity and Pulse Control.
5.6 Beam Direction and Propagation.
5.7 Mounting and Positioning Equipment.
5.8 Optical Measurement.
5.9 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 6 Types of Lasers.
6.1 Laser Oscillators and Optical Amplifiers.
6.2 Laser Media.
6.3 The Importance of Gain.
6.4 Broadband and Wavelength-Tunable Lasers.
6.5 Laser-Like Light Sources.
6.6 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 7 Gas Lasers.
7.1 The Gas Laser Family.
7.2 Gas-Laser Basics.
7.3 Helium-Neon Lasers.
7.4 Argon- and Krypton-Ion Lasers.
7.5 Metal-Vapor Lasers.
7.6 Carbon Dioxide Laser.
7.7 Excimer Lasers.
7.8 Chemical Lasers.
7.9 Other Gas Lasers.
7.10 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 8 Solid-State and Fiber Lasers.
8.1 What is a Solid-State Laser?
8.2 Solid-State Laser Materials.
8.3 Optical Pumping.
8.4 Ruby Lasers.
8.5 Neodymium Lasers.
8.6 Vibronic and Tunable Solid-State Lasers.
8.7 Erbium and Other Eye-Safe Laser.
8.8 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Lasers.
8.9 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Amplifiers.
8.10 Raman Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers.
8.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 9 Semiconductor Diode Lasers.
9.1 Basics of Semiconductor Diode Lasers.
9.2 Semiconductor Basics.
9.3 Light Emission at Junctions.
9.4 Layers and Confinement in Diode Lasers.
9.5 Confinement in the Junction Plane.
9.6 Edge-Emitting Diode Lasers.
9.7 Surface-Emitting Diode Lasers.
9.8 Quantum Wells and Dots.
9.9 Quantum Cascade Lasers.
9.10 Optical Properties of Diode Lasers.
9.11 Diode Laser Materials and Wavelengths.
9.12 Silicon Lasers.
9.13 Packaging and Specialization of Diode Lasers.
9.14 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 10 Other Lasers and Related Sources.
10.1 Tunable Dye Lasers.
10.2 Extreme-Ultraviolet Sources.
10.3 Free-Electron Lasers.
10.4 Silicon Lasers.
10.5 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 11 Low-Power Laser Applications.
11.1 Advantages of Laser Light.
11.2 Reading with Lasers.
11.3 Optical Disks and Data Storage.
11.4 Laser Printing and Marking.
11.5 Fiber-Optic Communications.
11.6 Laser Measurement.
11.7 Laser Pointers, Art, and Entertainment.
11.8 Low-Power Defense Applications.
11.9 Sensing and Spectroscopy.
11.10 Holography.
11.11 Other Low-Power Applications.
11.12 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 12 High-Power Laser Applications.
12.1 High- Versus Low-Power Laser Applications.
12.2 Attractions of High-Power Lasers.
12.3 Materials Working.
12.4 Electronics Manufacturing.
12.5 Three-Dimensional Modeling.
12.6 Laser Medical Treatment.
12.7 Photochemistry and Isotope Separation.
12.8 Laser-Driven Nuclear Fusion.
12.9 High-Energy Laser Weapons.
12.10 Futuristic High-Power Laser Ideas.
12.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 13 Lasers In Research.
13.1 Lasers Open New Opportunities.
13.2 Laser Spectroscopy.
13.3 Manipulating Tiny Objects.
13.4 Atom Lasers and Bose–Einstein Condensates.
13.5 Slow Light.
13.6 Nanoscale Lasers.
13.7 Petawatt Lasers.
13.8 Attosecond Pulses.
13.9 Laser Acceleration.
13.10 Other Emerging Research.
13.11 What We Have Learned.
Answers to Quiz Questions.
Appendix A: Laser Safety.
Appendix B: Handy Numbers and Formulas.
Appendix C: Resources and Suggested Readings.
Glossary.
Index.