LASERS
THEORY AND APPLICATIONS

Contents

Part I: Basic laser theory

1. Elements of quantum mechanics

2. The Einstein coefficients and light amplification

3. Laser rate equations

4. Semiclassical theory of the laser

5. Optical resonators

6. Vector spaces and linear operators: Dirac notation

7. Quantum theory of interaction of radiation field with matter

8. Properties of laser beams and types of lasers

Part II: Some important applications of lasers

9. Spatial frequency filtering and holography

10. Laser-induced fusion

11. Lightwave communications

12. Lasers in science

13. Lasers in industry

Part III: The Nobel Lectures