Advances in Lasers and Applications

Laser science and technology have moved forward rapidly in the last few years, particularly in the areas of solid-state lasers, ultrashort pulse generation, and optical parametric oscillators. These improved sources have in turn led to the utilization of improved systems in existing and new applications. This book provides an account of recent key developments in laser science and technology suitable for graduate students. It is written by 17 internationally-recognized experts and carefully edited to give a coherent overview of this rapidly development field. The resulting book is a valuable work describing the science and applications of modern laser systems. The authors have started at a level suitable for scientists and engineers with little specialist knowledge of each topic and developed their subject through to the current state-of-the-art.The book starts with tutorial reviews of the underpinning science of diode pumped lasers, optical parametric oscillators, and ultrafast pulse generation. It moves on through the more specialized areas of waveguide lasers, ultrafast parametric amplification, visible solid-state lasers, materials, and diode pumps. The final sections are on the applications of these sources to medicine, remote sensing and ranging, material processing, and the widening set of applications for ultrashort pulses.