Laser Chemistry : Spectroscopy, Dynamics and Applications

Laser Chemistry: Spectroscopy, Dynamics and Applications provides a basic introduction to the subject, written for students and other novices. It assumes little in the way of prior knowledge, and carefully guides the reader through the important theory and concepts whilst introducing key techniques and applications.

Preface.About the authors.Chapter 1 Introduction.1.1 Basic concepts in laser chemistry.1.2 Organization of the book.Part 1 Principles of lasers and laser systems.Chapter 2 Atoms and molecules, and their interaction with light waves.2.1 Quantum states, energy levels and wave functions.2.2 Dipole transitions and transition probabilities.2.3 Einstein coefficients and excited-state lifetimes.2.4 Spectroscopic line shapes.2.5 The polarization of light waves.2.6 Basic concepts of coherence.2.7 Coherent superposition of quantum states and the concept of wave packets.Chapter 3 The basics of lasers.3.1 Fundamentals of laser action.3.2 Laser resonators.3.3 Frequency and spatial properties of laser radiation.3.4 Gain in continuous-wave and pulsed lasers.3.5Q-switching and the generation of nanosecond pulses.3.6 Mode locking and the generation of picosecond and femtosecond pulses.Chapter 4 Laser systems.4.1 Fixed-wavelength gas lasers: helium-neon, rare-gas ion and excimer lasers.4.2 Fixed-wavelength solid-state lasers: the Nd:YAG laser.4.3 Tuneable dye laser systems.4.4 Tuneable Ti:sapphire laser systems.4.5 Semiconductor diode lasers.4.6 Quantum cascade lasers.4.7 Non-linear crystals and frequency-mixing processes.4.8 Three-wave mixing processes: doubling, sum and difference frequency generation.4.9 Optical parametric oscillation.Part 2 Spectroscopic techniques in laser chemistry.Chapter 5 General concepts of laser spectroscopy.5.1 Spectroscopy based on photon detection.5.2 Spectroscopy based on charged particle detection.5.3 Spectroscopy based on measuring changes of macroscopic physical properties of the medium.Chapter 6 Absorption spectroscopy.6.1 Principles of absorption spectroscopy.6.2 Observable transitions in atoms and molecules.6.3 Practical implementation of absorption spectroscopy.6.4 Multipass absorption techniques.Chapter 7 Laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.7.1 Principles of laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.7.2 Important parameters in laser-induced fluorescence.7.3 Practical implementation of laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy.Chapter 8 Light scattering methods: Raman spectroscopy and other processes.8.1 Light scattering.8.2 Principles of Raman spectroscopy.8.3 Practical implementation of Raman spectroscopy.Chapter 9 Ionization spectroscopy.9.1 Principles of ionization spectroscopy.9.2 Photoion detection.9.3 Photoelectron detection.9.4 Photoion imaging.Part 3 Optics and measurement concepts.Chapter 10 Reflection, refraction and diffraction.10.1 Selected properties of optical materials and light waves.10.2 Reflection and refraction at a plane surface.10.3 Light transmission through prisms.10.4 Light transmission through lenses and imaging.10.5 Imaging using curved mirrors.10.6 Superposition, interference and diffraction of light waves.10.7 Diffraction by single and multiple apertures.10.8 Diffraction gratings.Chapter 11 Filters and thin-film coatings.11.1 Attenuation of light beams.11.1 Beam splitters.11.3 Wavelength-selective filters.11.4 Polarization filters.11.5 Reflection and filtering at optical component interfaces.11.6 Thin-film coatings.Chapter 12 Optical fibres.12.1 Principles of optical fibre transmission.12.2 Attenuation in fibre transmission.12.3 Mode propagation in fibres.Chapter 13 Analysis instrumentation and detectors.13.1 Spectrometers.13.2 Interferometers.13.3 Photon detectors exploiting the photoelectric effect.13.4 Photodetectors based on band-gap materials.13.5 Measuring laser power and pulse energy.13.6 Analysis of charged particles for charge, mass and energy.