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Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide
The expanded fourth edition of the book that offers an essential introduction to laser technology and the newest developments in the field
The revised and updated fourth edition of Understanding Lasers offers an essential guide and introduction that explores how lasers work, what they do, and how they are applied in the real world. The author—a Fellow of The Optical Society—reviews the key concepts of physics and optics that are essential for understanding lasers and explains how lasers operate. The book also contains information on the optical accessories used with lasers.
Written in non-technical terms, the book gives an overview of the wide-variety laser types and configurations. Understanding Lasers covers fiber, solid-state, excimer, helium-neon, carbon dioxide, free-electron lasers, and more. In addition, the book also explains concepts such as the difference between laser oscillation and amplification, the importance of laser gain, and tunable lasers. The updated fourth edition highlights the most recent research and development in the field. This important resource:
Includes a new chapter on fiber lasers and amplifiers
Reviews new topics on physics of optical fibers and fiber lasers, disk lasers, and Ytterbium lasers
Contains new sections on Laser Geometry and Implications, Diode Laser Structures, Optimal Parametric Sources, and 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Puts the focus on research and emerging developments in areas such as spectroscopy, slow light, laser cooling, and extremely precise measurements
Contains appendices, glossary, and index that help make this book a useful reference
Written for engineering and physics students, engineers, scientists, and technicians, the fourth edition of Understanding Lasers contains the basic concepts of lasers and the most recent advances in the technology.
The revised and updated fourth edition of Understanding Lasers offers an essential guide and introduction that explores how lasers work, what they do, and how they are applied in the real world. The author—a Fellow of The Optical Society—reviews the key concepts of physics and optics that are essential for understanding lasers and explains how lasers operate. The book also contains information on the optical accessories used with lasers.
Written in non-technical terms, the book gives an overview of the wide-variety laser types and configurations. Understanding Lasers covers fiber, solid-state, excimer, helium-neon, carbon dioxide, free-electron lasers, and more. In addition, the book also explains concepts such as the difference between laser oscillation and amplification, the importance of laser gain, and tunable lasers. The updated fourth edition highlights the most recent research and development in the field. This important resource:
Includes a new chapter on fiber lasers and amplifiers
Reviews new topics on physics of optical fibers and fiber lasers, disk lasers, and Ytterbium lasers
Contains new sections on Laser Geometry and Implications, Diode Laser Structures, Optimal Parametric Sources, and 3D Printing and Additive Manufacturing
Puts the focus on research and emerging developments in areas such as spectroscopy, slow light, laser cooling, and extremely precise measurements
Contains appendices, glossary, and index that help make this book a useful reference
Written for engineering and physics students, engineers, scientists, and technicians, the fourth edition of Understanding Lasers contains the basic concepts of lasers and the most recent advances in the technology.
- GenresPhysics
586 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 1988
4 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Hecht
49 books3 followersJeff Hecht has written extensively about lasers, light and optics for a wide range of publications, including New Scientist magazine, Laser Focus World, Optics & Photonics News, High Technology, Technology Review, and Bulletin of the American Scientists.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
May 8, 2023
If you skip the textbook introductions and head straight to the information (usually after the first chapter of a section, and first block of a chapter); there's some good information about the theory of operation, and the evolution of lasers from the early solid crystals, to gas lasers, to diode lasers, to fiber lasers. And just when you start wondering why one technology can't take over for another, the book usually jumps right to that and explains it.
Gives you enough information that you can talk for hours with others and go on and on about fascinating developments in fiber amplifiers, laser diodes, or space based futuristic weapons.
Not a difficult read, and just the right level of detail for someone who knows what a laser is, probably has pointed a green laser pointer around and things, and is curious about more.
Gives you enough information that you can talk for hours with others and go on and on about fascinating developments in fiber amplifiers, laser diodes, or space based futuristic weapons.
Not a difficult read, and just the right level of detail for someone who knows what a laser is, probably has pointed a green laser pointer around and things, and is curious about more.
Displaying 1 of 1 review