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| Preface to the Second Edition | |
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| Preface to the First Edition | |
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| Acknowledgments | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Overview | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Definition of the Laser | |
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| Simplicity of a Laser | |
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| Unique Properties of a Laser | |
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| The Laser Spectrum and Wavelengths | |
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| A Brief History of the Laser | |
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| Overview of the Book | |
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| Fundamental Wave Properties of Light | |
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| Wave Nature of Light--The Interaction of Light with Materials | |
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| Overview | |
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| Maxwell's Equations | |
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| Maxwell's Wave Equations | |
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| Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation (Light) with Matter | |
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| Coherence | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Fundamental Quantum Properties of Light | |
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| Particle Nature of Light--Discrete Energy Levels | |
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| Overview | |
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| Bohr Theory of the Hydrogen Atom | |
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| Quantum Theory of Atomic Energy Levels | |
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| Angular Momentum of Atoms | |
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| Energy Levels Associated with One-Electron Atoms | |
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| Periodic Table of the Elements | |
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| Energy Levels of Multi-Electron Atoms | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Radiative Transitions and Emission Linewidth | |
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| Overview | |
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| Decay of Excited States | |
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| Emission Broadening and Linewidth Due to Radiative Decay | |
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| Additional Emission-Broadening Processes | |
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| Quantum Mechanical Description of Radiating Atoms | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Energy Levels and Radiative Properties of Molecules, Liquids, and Solids | |
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| Overview | |
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| Molecular Energy Levels and Spectra | |
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| Liquid Energy Levels and Their Radiation Properties | |
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| Energy Levels in Solids--Dielectric Laser Materials | |
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| Energy Levels in Solids--Semiconductor Laser Materials | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Radiation and Thermal Equilibrium--Absorption and Stimulated Emission | |
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| Overview | |
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| Equilibrium | |
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| Radiating Bodies | |
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| Cavity Radiation | |
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| Absorption and Stimulated Emission | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Laser Amplifiers | |
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| Conditions for Producing a Laser - Population Inversions, Gain, and Gain Saturation | |
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| Overview | |
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| Absorption and Gain | |
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| Population Inversion (Necessary Condition for a Laser) | |
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| Saturation Intensity (Sufficient Condition for a Laser) | |
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| Development and Growth of a Laser Beam | |
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| Exponential Growth Factor (Gain) | |
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| Threshold Requirements for a Laser | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Laser Oscillation Above Threshold | |
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| Overview | |
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| Laser Gain Saturation | |
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| Laser Beam Growth beyond the Saturation Intensity | |
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| Optimization of Laser Output Power | |
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| Energy Exchange between Upper Laser Level Population and Laser Photons | |
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| Laser Output Fluctuations | |
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| Laser Amplifiers | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Requirements for Obtaining Population Inversions | |
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| Overview | |
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| Inversions and Two-Level Systems | |
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| Relative Decay Rates - Radiative versus Collisional | |
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| Steady-State Inversions in Three- and Four-Level Systems | |
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| Transient Population Inversions | |
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| Processes That Inhibit or Destroy Inversions | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Laser Pumping Requirements and Techniques | |
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| Overview | |
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| Excitation or Pumping Threshold Requirements | |
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| Pumping Pathways | |
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| Specific Excitation Parameters Associated with Optical Pumping | |
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| Specific Excitation Parameters Associated with Particle Pumping | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Laser Resonators | |
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| Laser Cavity Modes | |
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| Overview | |
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| Introduction | |
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| Longitudinal Laser Cavity Modes | |
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| Transverse Laser Cavity Modes | |
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| Properties of Laser Modes | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Stable Laser Resonators and Gaussian Beams | |
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| Overview | |
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| Stable Curved Mirror Cavities | |
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| Properties of Gaussian Beams | |
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| Properties of Real Laser Beams | |
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| Propagation of Gaussian Beams Using ABCD Matrices - Complex Beam Parameter | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Special Laser Cavities and Cavity Effects | |
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| Overview | |
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| Unstable Resonators | |
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| Q-Switching | |
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| Gain-Switching | |
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| Mode-Locking | |
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| Pulse Shortening Techniques | |
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| Ring Lasers | |
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| Complex Beam Parameter Analysis Applied to Multi-Mirror Laser Cavities | |
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| Cavities for Producing Spectral Narrowing of Laser Output | |
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| Laser Cavities Requiring Small-Diameter Gain Regions - Astigmatically Compensated Cavities | |
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| Waveguide Cavities for Gas Lasers | |
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| References | |
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| Problems | |
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| Specific Laser Systems | |
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| Laser Systems Involving Low-Density Gain Media | |
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| Overview | |
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| Atomic Gas Lasers | |
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| Molecular Gas Lasers | |
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| X-Ray Plasma Lasers | |
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| Free-Electron Lasers | |
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| References | |
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| Laser Systems Involving High-Density Gain Media | |
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| Overview | |
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| Organic Dye Lasers | |
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| Solid-State Lasers | |
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| Semiconductor Diode Lasers | |
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| References | |
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| Frequency Multiplication of Laser Beams | |
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| Frequency Multiplication of Lasers and Other Nonlinear Optical Effects | |
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| Overview | |
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| Wave Propagation in an Anisotropic Crystal | |
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| Polarization Response of Materials to Light | |
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| Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Processes | |
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| Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Processes | |
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| Nonlinear Optical Materials | |
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| Phase Matching | |
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| Saturable Absorption | |
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| Two-Photon Absorption | |
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| Stimulated Raman Scattering | |
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| Harmonic Generation in Gases | |
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| References | |
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| Appendix | |
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| Index | |