Citation
Svelto, O. and Hanna, D.C. (1999), "Principles of Lasers 4th edition", Sensor Review, Vol. 19 No. 4, pp. 325-326. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.1999.19.4.325.2
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
This book aims to provide a wide‐ranging and unified description of laser physics, their behaviour, laser technology and current applications. The subject is presented as simple concepts which are compatible with a correct physical understanding. The mathematical aspects of lasers is kept to a minimum.
After an introductory chapter, topics covered in this book include the interaction of radiation with atoms and ions; energy levels, radiative and non‐radiative transitions in molecules and semiconductors; ray and wave propagation through optical media and passive optical resonances.
Chapter 6 discusses pumping processes. Subsequent chapters cover continuous wave laser behaviour; transient laser behaviour; solid‐state, dye and semiconductor lasers and gas, chemical, free‐electron and X‐ray lasers. The properties of laser beams are discussed in Chapter 11. The final chapter discusses laser beam transformation: propagation, amplification, frequency conversion, pulse compression and pulse expansion.
Nine appendices are included in this book, with Appendix A covering semiclassical treatment of the interaction of radiation and matter. The following appendices discuss lines shape calculation for collision broadening, simplified treatment of amplified spontaneous emission and the calculation of the radiative transition rates of molecular transitions.
Appendix E covers space‐dependent rate equations and looks at four‐level lasers and quasi‐three‐level lasers, while Appendix F covers mode‐locking theory: homogeneous line, and addresses active and passive mode locking. The final three appendices discuss propagation of a laser pulse through a dispersive medium or a gain medium, high‐order coherence and physical constants, and useful conversion factors.
This book is well presented and clearly explained. It also includes plenty of example questions and answers.