As different laser technologies continue to make it possible to change laser parameters and improve beam quality and performance, a multidisciplinary theoretical knowledge and grasp of cutting-edge technological developments also become increasingly important. The revised and updated Laser Technology, Second Edition reviews the principles and basic physical laws of lasers needed to learn from past developments and solve the many technical problems arising in this challenging field.
The first edition of Laser Technology was classified by the Chinese National Education Committee as a "national-level key textbook." This updated second edition logically presents the various types of laser technology currently available and discusses the transmission of information using optical waves with modulating technology. It assesses how to enhance beam energy or power through Q switching, mode-locking, and amplification, and it illustrates how mode selection and frequency stabilizing technology can improve light beam directionality or monochromaticity. The text also covers nonlinear optical techniques for obtaining new frequencies and light waves.
Features Self-Contained, Independent Chapters for Flexible Use
The author presents the fundamentals of physical effects in technical devices and implementation methods to create a clear and systematic understanding of the physical processes of different laser technologies.
Technical improvements to enhance laser performance in different applications have given rise to new physical phenomena. These have resulted in a series of new laser branches and fields of applied technologies, such as laser physics, nonlinear optics, laser spectroscopy, laser medicine, and information optoelectronic technology. This book analyzes this growth, stressing basic principles but also including key technical methods and examples where needed to properly combine practical and theoretical coverage of this distinct area.
Laser Modulation and Deflection Technology
The basic concept of modulation
The electro-optic modulation
Acousto-optic modulation
Magneto-optic modulation
The direct modulation
The spatial light modulator
The Q Modulating (Q-switching) Technology
Overview
The basic theory of Q modulating lasers
Electro-optic Q modulation
Problems for consideration in designing electro-optic Q modulating lasers
Acousto-optic Q modulation
The passive saturable absorption Q modulation
A brief introduction to rotating mirror Q modulation
Ultrashort Pulse Technology
Overview
Active mode-locking
Passive mode-locking
The Synchronously pumped mode-locking
Self-mode-locking
The selection of single pulses and ultrashort pulse measuring technique
Some typical mode-locked lasers
The Laser Amplifying Technology
An overview
The theory of the pulse amplifier
The steady-state theory of long pulsed laser amplification
Problems for consideration in designing a laser amplifier
The regenerative amplifying technology
The semiconductor laser amplifier
The rare earth element-doped fiber amplifier
The distributed fiber amplifier
The Mode Selecting Technology
Overview
The transverse mode selecting technology
The longitudinal mode selecting technology
Methods of mode measurement
The Frequency Stabilizing Technology
An overview
Lamb dip frequency stabilization
The Zeeman effect frequency stabilization
Saturated absorption frequency stabilization (anti-Lamb dip frequency stabilization)
Other frequency stabilizing lasers
Measurement of frequency stability and reproducibility
The Nonlinear Optical Technology
Overview
The laser frequency doubling (SHG) technology
Optical parametric oscillation technology
Stimulated Raman scattering
Optical phase conjugation
The Laser Transmission Technology
An overview of optical fibers
An analysis of the ray characteristics of optical fibers
The attenuation and dispersion characteristics of optical fibers
Polarization and birefringence of the single mode optical fiber
The nonlinear effect in the optical fiber—the optical fiber soliton
The optical fiber joining and coupling technology
Laser atmospheric and underwater transmission
Biography
Lan Xinju is with the College of Optoelectronic Science and Engineering at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan, China.
