Description
In this book the interaction of radiation and matter, and the principles of laser operation are treated at a level suitable for fourth-year undergraduate courses or introductory graduate courses in physics, chemistry or engineering. The factors which determine efficiency, wavelength coverage, output power, and beam quality of the different classes of laser are treated both in terms of fundamental theory and practical construction aspects. Details of established types of solid-state, semiconductor, and gas lasers are examined together with the techniques that enable their output to be converted widely across the spectrum. The latest advances in high power fibre lasers, femtosecond lasers, and X-ray lasers are explained. The text is liberally illustrated with more than 300 diagrams. An extensive bibliography is provided, together with numerical problems in each chapter. Solutions are available via the web.
About the Author
Simon Hooker's doctoral and early post-doctoral work in Oxford involved a study of novel line- and broadly-tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers optically-pumped by a molecular fluorine laser. In 1994 he moved to Stanford University to work with Prof. Steve Harris. He returned to the UK in 1996 to take up a Royal Society University Research Fellowship and to start a new research group in the Clarendon Laboratory. He joined the faculty of Oxford's Department of Physics in 2005; he was made Reader in 2006, and Professor in 2008. Colin Webb completed his D.Phil. at Oxford in 1964, the first research degree specifically on the topic of laser physics undertaken anywhere outside the USA. He was then recruited as a member of technical staff of Bell Laboratories, New Jersey, USA. He returned to Oxford University in 1968 to head the Laser group at the Clarendon Laboratory. In the 1970s he became a University Lecturer and Fellow of Jesus College. Until his retirement in 2002, Colin Webb was the ad hominem Professor of Laser Physics at the University of Oxford, and from 1995-1999 he was Head of Atomic and Laser Physics. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America serving as Director-at-Large from 1991-1994. In 1991 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, receiving its Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize in 1998. In January 2000 he was awarded an MBE for services to the UK Laser Industry.
Reviews
This textbook is well suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. It is written with the fine-tuned pedagogical style of master teachers, and it is replete with well-integrated figures and insightful problem sets at the end of each chapter. * Barry R. Masters, OPN Optics & Photonics News 2011 *
There is no question in my mind that for expositional clarity and completeness this book far surpasses all the others I've seen. The authors are to be congratulated. I have little doubt it will be become the standard Laser Physics text against which all others will have to be judged (and mostly found wanting). The treatment of explanatory footnotes is superb; it immediately raised the question of why it wasn't done this way years ago? The ability to jot down notes in a truly generous margin is also a great feature. It's not only a textbook for students; from my point of view everyone working with lasers will find it useful. It may become the standard quick reference for lasers; the book everyone reaches for when a question comes up. * Alan White, Formerly of Bell Laboratories, and co-inventor of the red HeNe gas laser *
Very well-written while using a clear and concise style. Figures are plentiful and neatly printed...impressive array of topics. Laser Physics , by Hooker and Webb, is highly recommended as a text book and to practitioners seeking to review some of the basics. * Optics Journal *
Hooker and Webb have drawn on their vast experience of laser research to produce a textbook which is a real tour de force. The lucid treatment of fundamental laser physics in the early chapters is followed by a detailed account of modern laser materials and devices. This superb book will undoubtedly become an essential text for undergraduates and researchers alike. * Simon L. Cornish, Royal Society University Research Fellow, Durham University *
This is an absolute tour de force in laser physics and is set to establish itself as a key undergraduate text in this topical area, however, it most certainly would not be out of place as an indispensible reference in the research laboratory. A comprehensive treatment is provided for the basic operation of a generic laser through to the characteristics of all the important modern laser systems and the key features such as single frequency operation, ultrashort pulse generation and measurement and application to non linear optics. * J.R. Taylor, Imperial College, London *
This is an extraordinarily complete and interesting textbook on lasers. It covers all main topics in laser physics, from historical ruby lasers to the latest developments in non-linear optics, ultra-short pulse generation and frequency combs. This vast subject is treated with a unique and tasty blend of fundamental physics, engineering considerations and practical applications. The agreeable presentation makes it possible to get to the main points at a glance. All useful fundamental concepts, from atomic to solid state physics, from electromagnetism to optics, are clearly introduced, making the whole book extremely self-contained. It will thus be useful for a large audience, from undergraduate students to their professors, who will particularly appreciate the wealth of interesting exercises at the ends of the chapters. It will also rapidly become a reference on state-of-the art laser techniques for researchers and engineers. * Jean-Michel Raimond, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198506928
Author Simon Hooker
Format Paperback
Page Count 604
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 247mm * 190mm * 30mm
About the Author
Simon Hooker's doctoral and early post-doctoral work in Oxford involved a study of novel line- and broadly-tunable vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) lasers optically-pumped by a molecular fluorine laser. In 1994 he moved to Stanford University to work with Prof. Steve Harris. He returned to the UK in 1996 to take up a Royal Society University Research Fellowship and to start a new research group in the Clarendon Laboratory. He joined the faculty of Oxford's Department of Physics in 2005; he was made Reader in 2006, and Professor in 2008. Colin Webb completed his D.Phil. at Oxford in 1964, the first research degree specifically on the topic of laser physics undertaken anywhere outside the USA. He was then recruited as a member of technical staff of Bell Laboratories, New Jersey, USA. He returned to Oxford University in 1968 to head the Laser group at the Clarendon Laboratory. In the 1970s he became a University Lecturer and Fellow of Jesus College. Until his retirement in 2002, Colin Webb was the ad hominem Professor of Laser Physics at the University of Oxford, and from 1995-1999 he was Head of Atomic and Laser Physics. He is a Fellow of the Optical Society of America serving as Director-at-Large from 1991-1994. In 1991 he was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Society, receiving its Clifford Paterson Medal and Prize in 1998. In January 2000 he was awarded an MBE for services to the UK Laser Industry.
Reviews
This textbook is well suited for advanced undergraduate and graduate students. It is written with the fine-tuned pedagogical style of master teachers, and it is replete with well-integrated figures and insightful problem sets at the end of each chapter. * Barry R. Masters, OPN Optics & Photonics News 2011 *
There is no question in my mind that for expositional clarity and completeness this book far surpasses all the others I've seen. The authors are to be congratulated. I have little doubt it will be become the standard Laser Physics text against which all others will have to be judged (and mostly found wanting). The treatment of explanatory footnotes is superb; it immediately raised the question of why it wasn't done this way years ago? The ability to jot down notes in a truly generous margin is also a great feature. It's not only a textbook for students; from my point of view everyone working with lasers will find it useful. It may become the standard quick reference for lasers; the book everyone reaches for when a question comes up. * Alan White, Formerly of Bell Laboratories, and co-inventor of the red HeNe gas laser *
Very well-written while using a clear and concise style. Figures are plentiful and neatly printed...impressive array of topics. Laser Physics , by Hooker and Webb, is highly recommended as a text book and to practitioners seeking to review some of the basics. * Optics Journal *
Hooker and Webb have drawn on their vast experience of laser research to produce a textbook which is a real tour de force. The lucid treatment of fundamental laser physics in the early chapters is followed by a detailed account of modern laser materials and devices. This superb book will undoubtedly become an essential text for undergraduates and researchers alike. * Simon L. Cornish, Royal Society University Research Fellow, Durham University *
This is an absolute tour de force in laser physics and is set to establish itself as a key undergraduate text in this topical area, however, it most certainly would not be out of place as an indispensible reference in the research laboratory. A comprehensive treatment is provided for the basic operation of a generic laser through to the characteristics of all the important modern laser systems and the key features such as single frequency operation, ultrashort pulse generation and measurement and application to non linear optics. * J.R. Taylor, Imperial College, London *
This is an extraordinarily complete and interesting textbook on lasers. It covers all main topics in laser physics, from historical ruby lasers to the latest developments in non-linear optics, ultra-short pulse generation and frequency combs. This vast subject is treated with a unique and tasty blend of fundamental physics, engineering considerations and practical applications. The agreeable presentation makes it possible to get to the main points at a glance. All useful fundamental concepts, from atomic to solid state physics, from electromagnetism to optics, are clearly introduced, making the whole book extremely self-contained. It will thus be useful for a large audience, from undergraduate students to their professors, who will particularly appreciate the wealth of interesting exercises at the ends of the chapters. It will also rapidly become a reference on state-of-the art laser techniques for researchers and engineers. * Jean-Michel Raimond, Universite Pierre et Marie Curie *
Book Information
ISBN 9780198506928
Author Simon Hooker
Format Paperback
Page Count 604
Imprint Oxford University Press
Publisher Oxford University Press
Weight(grams) 1g
Dimensions(mm) 247mm * 190mm * 30mm
