Rami Arieli: "The
Laser Adventure" Table of Content
Lasers
and their applications - Table
of Contents
-
1. Introduction
- Laser Radiation and its properties.
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1.1 Electromagnetic
radiation - in vacuum and in matter.
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1.2 Properties
of laser radiation - Monochromaticity, Directionality, Coherence.
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2. Laser
Mechanism.
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2.1 Bohr
model of an atom.
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2.2 Photons
and Energy levels diagrams.
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2.3 Absorption
of electromagnetic radiation.
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2.4 Spontaneous
emission of electromagnetic radiation.
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2.5 Thermodynamic
equilibrium.
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2.6 Population
inversion.
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2.7 Stimulated
emission.
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2.8 Rate
equations.
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2.9 Stimulated
transitions.
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2.10 Amplification.
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2.11 3
level laser.
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2.12 4
level laser.
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3. Laser
system.
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3.1 Active
medium.
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3.2 Excitation
mechanism.
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3.3 Feedback
mechanism.
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3.4 Output
coupler.
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3.5 Interactive
Demonstration.
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4. Optical
cavity and oscillation modes.
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4.1 Standing
waves.
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4.2
Longitudinal
modes in a laser.
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4.3
Transverse
modes in a laser.
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4.4
Optical
Cavity.
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5. Amplification
in a laser - Laser Gain.
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5.1 Fluorescence
line shape.
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5.2 Amplification
in a closed loop path between the mirrors of the optical cavity.
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5.3 "Hole
burning" in the amplification curve.
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6. Laser types and their characteristics.
Laser
types introduction
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6.1
Gas lasers:
-
Atom
Gas:
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6.1.1 Helium-Neon
Laser (He-Ne).
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6.1.2 Metal
Vapor Laser (Copper, Gold).
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6.1.3 Helium
Cadmium Laser (He-Cd).
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Ion
Gas:
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6.1.4 Argon
Ion Laser (Ar+).
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6.1.5 Krypton
Laser (Kr+).
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Molecular
Gas:
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6.1.6 Carbon
Dioxide Laser (CO2).
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6.1.7 Nitrogen
Laser (N2).
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6.1.8 Excimer
Laser.
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6.1.9 Chemical
Laser.
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6.1.10 Far
Infra-Red Laser (FIR).
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6.2 Solid
State lasers:
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6.2.1 Ruby
Laser.
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6.2.2 Neodimium
YAG and Nd Glass Laser.
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6.2.3 Alexandrite
Laser.
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6.2.4 Color
Center Laser.
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6.2.5 Titanium
Sapphire Laser.
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6.3
Diode Laser (Semiconductor Laser,
Injection Laser).
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6.4 Dye
Laser (Liquid).
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6.5 Special
Lasers:
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6.5.1 Free
Electron Laser (FEL).
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6.5.2 X
Ray Laser.
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7. Characteristics
of Laser Radiation.
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7.0 Radiometry
and measurement of Electromagnetic Radiation.
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7.1 Spatial
Energy Distribution at the Laser Output.
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7.2 Laser
Beam Divergence and Focusing Capability.
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7.3 Pulsed
Radiation.
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7.4 Special
Mechanisms for creating Pulses ("Q" switch and Mode Lock).
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7.5 Polarization
of Electromagnetic Radiation.
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8. Control
of the Characteristics of Laser Radiation.
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8.1 Control
of spatial properties of the beam.
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8.2 Control
of the wavelength.
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8.3 Choosing
a specific longitudinal mode with etalon.
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9. Laser
Applications.
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9.1 Industrial
applications.
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9.1.1 Accurate
measurements (Distance, Movement, Interferometry).
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9.1.2 Straight
line marking, or plan of reference.
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9.1.3 Material
working (cutting, welding, hardening, melting, evaporating, photolithography,
etc.).
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9.1.4 Spectral
analysis.
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9.2 Medical
applications.
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9.2.1 Laser
surgery.
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9.2.2 Laser
in diagnostic medicine, and in combination with drugs.
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9.2.3 Soft
lasers (Wound healing, pain relief, cosmetic applications).
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9.3 Military
applications.
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9.3.1 Laser
range-finder.
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9.3.2 Target
designation.
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9.3.3 Laser
weapons ("Star War").
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9.3.4 Laser
blinding for man and sensitive equipment.
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9.4 Daily
applications
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9.4.1 Compact
disk - Optical storage of information.
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9.4.2 Laser
printer.
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9.4.3 Optical
disc drives.
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9.4.4 Optical
computer.
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9.4.5 Bar
code scanner.
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9.4.6 Holograms
against forgery (on credit cards, money, special goods, etc.).
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9.4.7 Fiber
optic communications.
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9.4.8 Free
space communications.
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9.4.9 Laser
shows (Lasarium) (in discotheques and open theaters).
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9.4.10 Holograms
in exhibits and museums.
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9.4.11 Kinetic
sculptures.
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9.5 Scientific
research applications.
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9.5.1 Spectroscopy.
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9.5.2 Laser
(inertial) fusion.
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9.5.3 Very
short pulses (10-15 femtosec).
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9.5.4 Laser
cooling of atoms.
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9.5.5 Study
of the interaction of electromagnetic radiation with matter.
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9.6 Special
applications.
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9.6.1 Energy
transport in space.
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9.6.2 Laser
gyroscope.
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9.6.3 Fiber
laser.
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10. Holography.
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10.0 Holography.
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10.1 Coherence
of Light.
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10.2 Principles
of holographic photography.
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10.3 Hologram
types.
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10.4 Applications
of holograms.
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10.5 Medium
for recording Holograms.
Interactive
Map of Laser Types.
Interactive
Map of Laser Applications.
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Back to Index.
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Glossary
of Laser Terms:
-
Appendix: Safe
Use of Lasers.
-
Laboratory
Experiments.
-
For further reading List
of Books on Lasers.
-
Links to other laser sites on the
Web.
About
the Project.