Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide - Softcover

Jeff Hecht

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0470088907 ISBN 13: 9780470088906

Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press, 2008

Synopsis

Updated to reflect advancements since the publication of the previous edition, Understanding Lasers: An Entry-Level Guide, 3rd Edition is an introduction to lasers and associated equipment. You need only a minimal background in algebra to understand the nontechnical language in this book, which is a practical, easy-to-follow guide for beginners. By studying the conceptual drawings, tables, and multiple-choice quizzes with answers provided at the back of the book you can understand applications of semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, and gas lasers for information processing, medicine, communications, industry, and military systems.

About this title

About the Author

Jeff Hecht is a science and technology writer who has covered the laser industry for more than thirty years. He cofounded Lasers & Optronics magazine and has been a contributing editor to Laser Focus World since 1991, where he was also managing editor for seven years. He has been a Boston correspondent for New Scientist magazine since 1984 and is the author of eleven books. He has taught short courses on optics at SPIE, OSA, and IEEE LEOS conferences. He is a member of the IEEE, APS, OSA, and the National Association of Science Writers.

From the Back Cover

An up-to-date and easy-to-follow introduction to lasertechnology

Laser technology has become important in a wide range ofpractical applications, ranging from medicine and consumerelectronics to telecommunications and military technology. Lasersare also vital tools on the cutting edge of research—eighteenrecipients of the Nobel Prize received the award for laser-relatedresearch, including the laser itself, holography, laser cooling,and Bose-Einstein condensates.

Updated to reflect advancements since publication of theprevious edition, Understanding Lasers, Third Edition offersan introduction to lasers and associated equipment at a level thatnontechnicians can fundamentally understand. The author focuses onreal-world lasers and assumes only a minimal background in algebra,making the book a practical, easy-to-follow guide for a broadaudience.

Beginning with an overview of how lasers work, what they do, andhow they're used, the book goes on to explore:

• Optics and laser accessories

• Semiconductor diode lasers

• Gas lasers

• Low-power laser applications

• Solid-state and fiber lasers

• High-power laser applications

• Lasers in research

Complete with conceptual drawings, tables, and multiple-choicequizzes with answers provided at the back of the book,Understanding Lasers, Third Edition serves as an idealintroduction to the subject for advanced high school students,undergraduate physics and engineering students, and professionalswho work with lasers but lack formal training.

Edition details

• Publisher: Wiley-IEEE Press
• Publication date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0470088907
• ISBN 13: 9780470088906
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 3
• Number of pages: 496