The Laser Guidebook

Comprehensive in its scope and practical in its approach, this guide aims to help end users quickly and easily choose the laser best suited to their needs. Starting with a concise introduction to the fundamentals of lasers and optics, this book offers practical, up-to-date information on all major types of lasers for applications ranging from science, engineering, and manufacturing to medicine and entertainment. The second edition contains all-new chapters on X-ray lasers, free-electron lasers, fiber lasers, and semiconductor lasers. For easy reference, chapters on each laser share a common structure that includes - basic physics and optics, internal workings, beam characteristics and efficiency, operating requirements, reliability and maintenance, safety considerations and applications and commercial availability.