Understanding Lasers: An Entry Level Guide By Jeff Hecht, published by John Wiley & Sons/IEEE Press Extensively Revised Fourth edition
Laser technology has come a long ways since the last edition was published in 2008, so I have extensively revised Understanding Lasers to bring it up to date. The most obvious change is a new chapter on fiber lasers, which have come into wide use for industrial machining and other materials-working and high-power applications. I also expanded coverage of nonlinear optics, short-pulse generation, and techniques for generating new laser wavelengths. Less visibly, I updated the whole book with a decade's worth of advances in lasers and optics and new applications. Keeping up with that progress means the book has grown more than a hundred pages to 586 pages (including index).
Available directly from John Wiley & Sons/IEEE Press Also Available from Bookstore.org and other fine booksellers.
What has not changed is the purpose of Understanding Lasers: to provide a user-friendly introduction to lasers and related optical technology. It is richly illustrated with line drawings that help explain the workings of lasers and optics. It includes little mathematics beyond basic algebra to understand this fascinating and important technology. I explain basic concepts, spelling out acronyms, and giving examples. I have been writing about laser technology for more than four decades, so I draw on an extensive background, including writing monthly review features and giving tutorial webcasts for Laser Focus World. The book includes a glossary of laser terms, some suggested references and handy formulas, multiple choice quizzes so you can test your knowledge, and an index I fussed over because I want the book to be a useful reference. It's the sort of book I would have loved to have when I got started in lasers.
The table of contents is below.
Laser technology has come a long ways since the last edition was published in 2008, so I have extensively revised Understanding Lasers to bring it up to date. The most obvious change is a new chapter on fiber lasers, which have come into wide use for industrial machining and other materials-working and high-power applications. I also expanded coverage of nonlinear optics, short-pulse generation, and techniques for generating new laser wavelengths. Less visibly, I updated the whole book with a decade's worth of advances in lasers and optics and new applications. Keeping up with that progress means the book has grown more than a hundred pages to 586 pages (including index).
Available directly from John Wiley & Sons/IEEE Press Also Available from Bookstore.org and other fine booksellers.
What has not changed is the purpose of Understanding Lasers: to provide a user-friendly introduction to lasers and related optical technology. It is richly illustrated with line drawings that help explain the workings of lasers and optics. It includes little mathematics beyond basic algebra to understand this fascinating and important technology. I explain basic concepts, spelling out acronyms, and giving examples. I have been writing about laser technology for more than four decades, so I draw on an extensive background, including writing monthly review features and giving tutorial webcasts for Laser Focus World. The book includes a glossary of laser terms, some suggested references and handy formulas, multiple choice quizzes so you can test your knowledge, and an index I fussed over because I want the book to be a useful reference. It's the sort of book I would have loved to have when I got started in lasers.
The table of contents is below.
Contents: Understanding Lasers: An Entry Level Guide (4th ed)
Preface
CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Overview
1.1 Lasers, Optics, and Photonics
1.2 Understanding the Laser
1.3 What Is a Laser?
1.4 Laser Materials and Types
1.5 Optical Properties of Laser Light
1.6 How Lasers Are Used?
1.7 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 Fiber Optics
2.6 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 and Efficiency
3.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 4 Laser Characteristics
4.1 Coherence
4.2 Laser Wavelengths
4.3 Properties of Laser Beams
4.4 Laser Power
4.5 Laser Efficiency
4.6 Pulse Characteristics
4.7 Polarization
4.8 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 5 Optics, Laser Accessories, and Measurements
5.1 Classical Optical Devices
5.2 Optical Materials
5.3 Optical Coatings and Filters
5.4 Beam Delivery, Direction, and Propagation
5.5 Mounting and Positioning Equipment
5.6 Nonlinear Optics
5.7 Beam Modulation and Output Control
5.8 Measurements in Optics
5.9 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 6 Laser Types, Features, and Enhancements
6.1 Perspectives on Laser Types
6.2 Laser Media
6.3 Pumping and Energy Storage
6.4 Laser Pulse Characteristics
6.5 Wavelength Conversion
6.6 Laser Oscillators and Optical Amplifiers
6.7 Wavelength Options
6.8 Laser-Like Light Sources
6.9 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 Lasers
7.7 Excimer Lasers
7.8 Nitrogen Lasers
7.9 Chemical Lasers
7.10 Other Gas Lasers
7.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 8 Solid-State Lasers
8.1 What Is a Solid-State Laser?
8.2 Solid-State Laser Materials
8.3 Solid-State Laser Configurations
8.4 Major Solid-State Laser Materials
8.5 Optically Pumped Semiconductor Lasers
8.6 Broadband and Tunable Solid-State Lasers
8.7 Pulsed Solid-State Lasers
8.8 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 9 Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers
9.1 What Are Fiber Lasers?
9.2 Optical Fiber Structures
9.3 Fiber Laser Design and Efficiency
9.4 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Lasers
9.5 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Amplifiers
9.6 Raman Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers
9.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 10 Diode and Other Semiconductor Lasers
10.1 Types of Semiconductor Lasers
10.2 Development of Diode Lasers
10.3 Semiconductor Basics
10.4 Comparing LED and Diode-Laser Emission
10.5 Confining Light and Current
10.6 Edge-Emitting Diode Lasers
10.7 Surface-Emitting Diode Lasers
10.8 Optical Properties of Diode Lasers
10.9 Diode-Laser Materials and Wavelengths
10.10 Quantum Cascade Lasers and Related Types
10.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 11 Other Lasers and Laser-Like Sources
11.1 Tunable Dye Lasers
11.2 Optical Parametric Sources
11.3 Supercontinuum Sources
11.4 Frequency Combs
11.5 Extreme Ultraviolet Sources
11.6 Free-Electron Lasers
11.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 12 Low-Power Laser Applications
12.1 Advantages of Laser Light
12.2 Reading with Lasers
12.3 Optical Disks and Data Storage
12.4 Laser Printing
12.5 Lasers in Fiber-Optic Communications
12.6 Laser Measurement
12.7 Laser Light Shows, Pointers, and Projection Displays
12.8 Low-Power Defense Applications
12.9 Sensing and Spectroscopy
12.10 Holography
12.11 Other Low-Power Applications
12.12 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 13 High-Power Laser Applications
13.1 High- Versus Low-Power Laser Applications
13.2 Attractions of High-Power Lasers
13.3 Important Considerations and Trends
13.4 Materials Working
13.5 Additive Manufacturing and Three-Dimensional Printing
13.6 Semiconductor Electronics Fabrication
13.7 Laser Medical Treatment
13.8 Photochemistry and Isotope Separation
13.9 Laser-Driven Nuclear Fusion
13.10 High-Energy Laser Weapons
13.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 14 Lasers in Research
14.1 Lasers Open New Opportunities
14.2 Laser Spectroscopy
14.3 Manipulating Tiny Objects
14.4 Atom Lasers and Bose–Einstein Condensates
14.5 Detection of Gravitational Waves
14.6 Laser Guide Stars for Astronomy
14.7 Slow Light
14.8 Nanoscale Lasers
14.9 Strange Lasers
14.10 Extreme Power Ultrashort Pulse Lasers
14.11 X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers
14.12 Other Emerging Research
14.13 What Have We Learned?
Answers to Quiz Questions
Appendix A: Laser Safety
Appendix B: Handy Numbers and Formulas
Appendix C: Resources and Suggested Readings
Glossary
Index
Preface
CHAPTER 1 Introduction and Overview
1.1 Lasers, Optics, and Photonics
1.2 Understanding the Laser
1.3 What Is a Laser?
1.4 Laser Materials and Types
1.5 Optical Properties of Laser Light
1.6 How Lasers Are Used?
1.7 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 Fiber Optics
2.6 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 and Efficiency
3.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 4 Laser Characteristics
4.1 Coherence
4.2 Laser Wavelengths
4.3 Properties of Laser Beams
4.4 Laser Power
4.5 Laser Efficiency
4.6 Pulse Characteristics
4.7 Polarization
4.8 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 5 Optics, Laser Accessories, and Measurements
5.1 Classical Optical Devices
5.2 Optical Materials
5.3 Optical Coatings and Filters
5.4 Beam Delivery, Direction, and Propagation
5.5 Mounting and Positioning Equipment
5.6 Nonlinear Optics
5.7 Beam Modulation and Output Control
5.8 Measurements in Optics
5.9 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 6 Laser Types, Features, and Enhancements
6.1 Perspectives on Laser Types
6.2 Laser Media
6.3 Pumping and Energy Storage
6.4 Laser Pulse Characteristics
6.5 Wavelength Conversion
6.6 Laser Oscillators and Optical Amplifiers
6.7 Wavelength Options
6.8 Laser-Like Light Sources
6.9 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 Lasers
7.7 Excimer Lasers
7.8 Nitrogen Lasers
7.9 Chemical Lasers
7.10 Other Gas Lasers
7.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 8 Solid-State Lasers
8.1 What Is a Solid-State Laser?
8.2 Solid-State Laser Materials
8.3 Solid-State Laser Configurations
8.4 Major Solid-State Laser Materials
8.5 Optically Pumped Semiconductor Lasers
8.6 Broadband and Tunable Solid-State Lasers
8.7 Pulsed Solid-State Lasers
8.8 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 9 Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers
9.1 What Are Fiber Lasers?
9.2 Optical Fiber Structures
9.3 Fiber Laser Design and Efficiency
9.4 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Lasers
9.5 Rare-Earth-Doped Fiber Amplifiers
9.6 Raman Fiber Lasers and Amplifiers
9.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 10 Diode and Other Semiconductor Lasers
10.1 Types of Semiconductor Lasers
10.2 Development of Diode Lasers
10.3 Semiconductor Basics
10.4 Comparing LED and Diode-Laser Emission
10.5 Confining Light and Current
10.6 Edge-Emitting Diode Lasers
10.7 Surface-Emitting Diode Lasers
10.8 Optical Properties of Diode Lasers
10.9 Diode-Laser Materials and Wavelengths
10.10 Quantum Cascade Lasers and Related Types
10.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 11 Other Lasers and Laser-Like Sources
11.1 Tunable Dye Lasers
11.2 Optical Parametric Sources
11.3 Supercontinuum Sources
11.4 Frequency Combs
11.5 Extreme Ultraviolet Sources
11.6 Free-Electron Lasers
11.7 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 12 Low-Power Laser Applications
12.1 Advantages of Laser Light
12.2 Reading with Lasers
12.3 Optical Disks and Data Storage
12.4 Laser Printing
12.5 Lasers in Fiber-Optic Communications
12.6 Laser Measurement
12.7 Laser Light Shows, Pointers, and Projection Displays
12.8 Low-Power Defense Applications
12.9 Sensing and Spectroscopy
12.10 Holography
12.11 Other Low-Power Applications
12.12 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 13 High-Power Laser Applications
13.1 High- Versus Low-Power Laser Applications
13.2 Attractions of High-Power Lasers
13.3 Important Considerations and Trends
13.4 Materials Working
13.5 Additive Manufacturing and Three-Dimensional Printing
13.6 Semiconductor Electronics Fabrication
13.7 Laser Medical Treatment
13.8 Photochemistry and Isotope Separation
13.9 Laser-Driven Nuclear Fusion
13.10 High-Energy Laser Weapons
13.11 What Have We Learned?
CHAPTER 14 Lasers in Research
14.1 Lasers Open New Opportunities
14.2 Laser Spectroscopy
14.3 Manipulating Tiny Objects
14.4 Atom Lasers and Bose–Einstein Condensates
14.5 Detection of Gravitational Waves
14.6 Laser Guide Stars for Astronomy
14.7 Slow Light
14.8 Nanoscale Lasers
14.9 Strange Lasers
14.10 Extreme Power Ultrashort Pulse Lasers
14.11 X-Ray Free-Electron Lasers
14.12 Other Emerging Research
14.13 What Have We Learned?
Answers to Quiz Questions
Appendix A: Laser Safety
Appendix B: Handy Numbers and Formulas
Appendix C: Resources and Suggested Readings
Glossary
Index