| Preface to the Second Edition | p. xix |
| Preface to the First Edition | p. xxi |
| Acknowledgments | p. xxiii |
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| Overview | p. 1 |
| Introduction | p. 1 |
| Definition of the Laser | p. 1 |
| Simplicity of a Laser | p. 2 |
| Unique Properties of a Laser | p. 2 |
| The Laser Spectrum and Wavelengths | p. 3 |
| A Brief History of the Laser | p. 4 |
| Overview of the Book | p. 5 |
| Fundamental Wave Properties of Light | |
| Wave Nature of Light--The Interaction of Light with Materials | p. 9 |
| Overview | p. 9 |
| Maxwell's Equations | p. 9 |
| Maxwell's Wave Equations | p. 12 |
| Interaction of Electromagnetic Radiation (Light) with Matter | p. 23 |
| Coherence | p. 37 |
| References | p. 39 |
| Problems | p. 39 |
| Fundamental Quantum Properties of Light | |
| Particle Nature of Light--Discrete Energy Levels | p. 45 |
| Overview | p. 45 |
| Bohr Theory of the Hydrogen Atom | p. 45 |
| Quantum Theory of Atomic Energy Levels | p. 54 |
| Angular Momentum of Atoms | p. 67 |
| Energy Levels Associated with One-Electron Atoms | p. 70 |
| Periodic Table of the Elements | p. 72 |
| Energy Levels of Multi-Electron Atoms | p. 77 |
| References | p. 86 |
| Problems | p. 86 |
| Radiative Transitions and Emission Linewidth | p. 89 |
| Overview | p. 89 |
| Decay of Excited States | p. 90 |
| Emission Broadening and Linewidth Due to Radiative Decay | p. 101 |
| Additional Emission-Broadening Processes | p. 105 |
| Quantum Mechanical Description of Radiating Atoms | p. 121 |
| References | p. 131 |
| Problems | p. 131 |
| Energy Levels and Radiative Properties of Molecules, Liquids, and Solids | p. 135 |
| Overview | p. 135 |
| Molecular Energy Levels and Spectra | p. 135 |
| Liquid Energy Levels and Their Radiation Properties | p. 153 |
| Energy Levels in Solids--Dielectric Laser Materials | p. 158 |
| Energy Levels in Solids--Semiconductor Laser Materials | p. 168 |
| References | p. 195 |
| Problems | p. 195 |
| Radiation and Thermal Equilibrium--Absorption and Stimulated Emission | p. 199 |
| Overview | p. 199 |
| Equilibrium | p. 199 |
| Radiating Bodies | p. 201 |
| Cavity Radiation | p. 207 |
| Absorption and Stimulated Emission | p. 215 |
| References | p. 221 |
| Problems | p. 221 |
| Laser Amplifiers | |
| Conditions for Producing a Laser - Population Inversions, Gain, and Gain Saturation | p. 225 |
| Overview | p. 225 |
| Absorption and Gain | p. 225 |
| Population Inversion (Necessary Condition for a Laser) | p. 234 |
| Saturation Intensity (Sufficient Condition for a Laser) | p. 235 |
| Development and Growth of a Laser Beam | p. 238 |
| Exponential Growth Factor (Gain) | p. 245 |
| Threshold Requirements for a Laser | p. 247 |
| References | p. 253 |
| Problems | p. 253 |
| Laser Oscillation Above Threshold | p. 255 |
| Overview | p. 255 |
| Laser Gain Saturation | p. 255 |
| Laser Beam Growth beyond the Saturation Intensity | p. 258 |
| Optimization of Laser Output Power | p. 261 |
| Energy Exchange between Upper Laser Level Population and Laser Photons | p. 266 |
| Laser Output Fluctuations | p. 273 |
| Laser Amplifiers | p. 279 |
| References | p. 288 |
| Problems | p. 288 |
| Requirements for Obtaining Population Inversions | p. 290 |
| Overview | p. 290 |
| Inversions and Two-Level Systems | p. 290 |
| Relative Decay Rates - Radiative versus Collisional | p. 292 |
| Steady-State Inversions in Three- and Four-Level Systems | p. 293 |
| Transient Population Inversions | p. 304 |
| Processes That Inhibit or Destroy Inversions | p. 307 |
| References | p. 319 |
| Problems | p. 319 |
| Laser Pumping Requirements and Techniques | p. 322 |
| Overview | p. 322 |
| Excitation or Pumping Threshold Requirements | p. 322 |
| Pumping Pathways | p. 324 |
| Specific Excitation Parameters Associated with Optical Pumping | p. 339 |
| Specific Excitation Parameters Associated with Particle Pumping | p. 355 |
| References | p. 363 |
| Problems | p. 364 |
| Laser Resonators | |
| Laser Cavity Modes | p. 371 |
| Overview | p. 371 |
| Introduction | p. 371 |
| Longitudinal Laser Cavity Modes | p. 372 |
| Transverse Laser Cavity Modes | p. 384 |
| Properties of Laser Modes | p. 396 |
| References | p. 399 |
| Problems | p. 399 |
| Stable Laser Resonators and Gaussian Beams | p. 402 |
| Overview | p. 402 |
| Stable Curved Mirror Cavities | p. 402 |
| Properties of Gaussian Beams | p. 410 |
| Properties of Real Laser Beams | p. 421 |
| Propagation of Gaussian Beams Using ABCD Matrices - Complex Beam Parameter | p. 425 |
| References | p. 432 |
| Problems | p. 432 |
| Special Laser Cavities and Cavity Effects | p. 434 |
| Overview | p. 434 |
| Unstable Resonators | p. 434 |
| Q-Switching | p. 439 |
| Gain-Switching | p. 450 |
| Mode-Locking | p. 451 |
| Pulse Shortening Techniques | p. 462 |
| Ring Lasers | p. 468 |
| Complex Beam Parameter Analysis Applied to Multi-Mirror Laser Cavities | p. 470 |
| Cavities for Producing Spectral Narrowing of Laser Output | p. 478 |
| Laser Cavities Requiring Small-Diameter Gain Regions - Astigmatically Compensated Cavities | p. 484 |
| Waveguide Cavities for Gas Lasers | p. 485 |
| References | p. 486 |
| Problems | p. 488 |
| Specific Laser Systems | |
| Laser Systems Involving Low-Density Gain Media | p. 491 |
| Overview | p. 491 |
| Atomic Gas Lasers | p. 491 |
| Molecular Gas Lasers | p. 510 |
| X-Ray Plasma Lasers | p. 525 |
| Free-Electron Lasers | p. 535 |
| References | p. 537 |
| Laser Systems Involving High-Density Gain Media | p. 539 |
| Overview | p. 539 |
| Organic Dye Lasers | p. 539 |
| Solid-State Lasers | p. 545 |
| Semiconductor Diode Lasers | p. 576 |
| References | p. 597 |
| Frequency Multiplication of Laser Beams | |
| Frequency Multiplication of Lasers and Other Nonlinear Optical Effects | p. 601 |
| Overview | p. 601 |
| Wave Propagation in an Anisotropic Crystal | p. 601 |
| Polarization Response of Materials to Light | p. 603 |
| Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Processes | p. 604 |
| Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Processes | p. 607 |
| Nonlinear Optical Materials | p. 610 |
| Phase Matching | p. 610 |
| Saturable Absorption | p. 615 |
| Two-Photon Absorption | p. 617 |
| Stimulated Raman Scattering | p. 618 |
| Harmonic Generation in Gases | p. 619 |
| References | p. 619 |
| Appendix | p. 621 |
| Index | p. 625 |
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