Laser Fundamentals

Laser Fundamentals provides a clear and comprehensive introduction to the physical and engineering principles of laser operation and design. Simple explanations, based throughout on key underlying concepts, lead the reader logically from the basics of laser action to advanced topics in laser physics and engineering. Much new material has been added to this second edition, especially in the areas of solid-state lasers, semiconductor lasers, and laser cavities. This 2004 edition contains a new chapter on laser operation above threshold, including extensive discussion of laser amplifiers. The clear explanations, worked examples, and many homework problems will make this book invaluable to undergraduate and first-year graduate students in science and engineering taking courses on lasers. The summaries of key types of lasers, the use of many unique theoretical descriptions, and the extensive bibliography will also make this a valuable reference work for researchers.

Author Biography

William Silfvast received a BSc degree in both physics and mathematics and a PhD in physics from the University of Utah. In 1990, he joined the faculty of the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida where he was Professor of Physics and Electrical Engineering as well as a member of the Center for Research and Education in Optics and Lasers (CREOL). In 1999 he also became a Professor of Optics at the School of Optics. He is presently Emeritus Professor of Optics. He is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Optical Society of America and the IEEE. He has carried out pioneering work in the fields of metal vapor lasers, recombination lasers, photoionization-pumped lasers, laser plasmas, and EUV lithography. He is the author of over 100 technical papers and holds more than 30 patents.