Laser Physics :

Laser Physics; Preface; Contents; Chapter 1: Quantum-Mechanical Fundamentals of Lasers; 1.1 Einstein Relations and Planck's Law; 1.2 Transition Probabilities and Matrix Elements; 1.2.1 Dipole Radiation and Spontaneous Emission; 1.2.2 Stimulated Emission and Absorption; 1.3 Mode Structure of Space and the Origin of Spontaneous Emission; 1.3.1 Mode Density of the Vacuum and Optical Media; 1.3.2 Vacuum Fluctuations and Spontaneous Emission; 1.4 Cross Sections and Broadening of Spectral Lines; 1.4.1 Cross Sections of Absorption and Emission

1.4.2 Natural Line Width and Broadening of Spectral LinesHomogeneous Broadening; Inhomogeneous Broadening; Simultaneous Broadening Processes; References; Chapter 2: The Laser Principle; 2.1 Population Inversion and Feedback; 2.1.1 The Two-Level System; 2.1.2 Three- and Four-Level Systems; The Three-Level Laser; The Four-Level Laser; The Quasi-Three-Level Laser; 2.1.3 The Feedback Condition; 2.2 Spectroscopic Laser Rate Equations; 2.2.1 Population and Stationary Operation; Stationary Operation; 2.2.2 Relaxation Oscillations; Spiking; 2.3 Potential Model of the Laser; References

Chapter 3: Optical Resonators3.1 Linear and Ring Resonators and Their Stability Criteria; 3.1.1 Basics of Matrix Optics; 3.1.2 Stable and Unstable Linear Resonators; 3.1.3 Stable and Unstable Ring Resonators; 3.2 Mode Structure and Intensity Distribution; 3.2.1 The Fundamental Mode: The Gaussian Beam; Gaussian Beams and Ray Matrices; 3.2.2 Higher-Order Transverse Modes and Beam Quality; Beam Quality; Transverse Mode Selection; 3.2.3 Longitudinal Modes and Hole-Burning Effects; Spatial Hole Burning; Spectral Hole Burning; Longitudinal-Mode Selection; 3.3 Line Width of the Laser Emission

ReferencesChapter 4: Generation of Short and Ultra-Short Pulses; 4.1 Basics of Q-Switching; 4.1.1 Active Q-Switching; Pumping at Low Q-Factor; Pulse Build-Up at High Q-Factor; Pulse Peak Power and Pulse Width; 4.1.2 Experimental Realization; Acousto-Optic Modulators; Electro-Optic Modulators; Cavity Dumping; 4.1.3 Passive Q-Switching; 4.1.4 Scaling Laws of Repetitive Q-Switching; 4.2 Basics of Mode Locking and Ultra-Short Pulses; 4.2.1 Active Mode Locking; 4.2.2 Passive Mode Locking; Kerr-Lens Mode-Locking; 4.2.3 Pulse Compression of Ultra-Short Pulses; Pulse Compression Methods

Chirped-Pulse AmplificationReferences; Chapter 5: Laser Examples and Their Applications; 5.1 Gas Lasers: The Helium-Neon-Laser; 5.2 Solid-State Lasers; 5.2.1 The Nd3+-Laser; Flashlamp-Pumped Nd3+ Lasers; Laser-Diode-Pumped Nd3+ Lasers; Applications; 5.2.2 The Tm3+-Laser; Different Hosts for Thulium Lasers; Energy-Transfer Processes; 5.2.3 The Ti3+:Al2O3 Laser; The Laser Medium; Laser Parameters; Applications; 5.3 Special Realisations of Lasers; 5.3.1 Thermal Lensing and Thermal Stress; Thermal Lensing; Thermal Stress; 5.3.2 The Fiber Laser; Double-Clad Fibers; Propagation in the Core

Spectroscopic Properties of Fiber Lasers

This textbook originates from a lecture course in laser physics at the Karlsruhe School of Optics and Photonics at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). A main goal in the conception of this textbook was to describe the fundamentals of lasers in a uniform and especially lab-oriented notation and formulation as well as many currently well-known laser types, becoming more and more important in the future. It closes a gap between the measureable spectroscopic quantities and the whole theoretical description and modeling. This textbook contains not only the fundamentals and the context of l