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Elsevier eBooks

Laser light dynamics

Hermann Haken

Published Jan 1, 1985• 129 citations
OpenAlex

Abstract

Preface. List of symbols. 1. Introduction. 2. Basic properties and types of lasers. 3. Laser resonators. 4. The intensity of laser light. Rate equations. 5. The basic equations of the semiclassical laser theory. 6. Applications of semiclassical theory. 7. Ultrashort pulses. 8. Instability hierachies of laser light. Chaos, and routes to chaos. 9. Optical bistability. 10. Quantum theory of the laser I. A first approach via quantum mechanical Langevin equations. Coherence, noise and photon-statistics. 11. Quantum theory of the laser II. A second approach via the density matrix equation and quantum classical correspondence. 12 A theoretical treatment of the two-photon laser. 13. The laser - trailblazer of synergetics. References. Subject index.

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Lectures on laser physics and laser instabilities

L.N. Narducci, N. B. Abraham

This book is an edited version of lectures given by the authors at the 1985 Summer School on Lase Physics. The School was held in Jilin University in Changchun, Peoples' Republic of China. Contents: The book is divided into 2 parts, the first is ''An Outline of Laser Physics and Laser Instabilities'': An Introduction to the Theory of the Laser: The Rate Equations; The Interaction of Light and Matter: The Classical Picture; The Basic Laser Equations: Homogeneously Broadened Systems; Steady State Behavior of a Homogeneously Broadened Ring Laser; Linear Stability Analysis: The Resonant Case; The Adiabatic Elimination of the Fast Variables; Linear Stability Analysis: The General Case; The Single Mode Laser: Deterministic Chaos; Dynamical Behavior of the Maxwell-Bloch Equations; The Spectral Analysis of the Output Field; Theory of a Laser with Inhomogeneous Broadening. The second part is on the ''principles of Laser Physics and Laser Instabilities'': Background Notes for the Discussion of Experimental Laser Systems; Amplified Spontaneous Emission; The Two-Level Atom; Laser Cavities and Modes; Types of Laser Systems and Classification of Lasers; the Xe 3.51 ..mu..m Laser; Chaos in Single Mode Lasers; Forced Laser Systems, Modulated Lasers and Lasers with an Injected Signal; Dynamical Phenomena in Multimode Laser Systems.

•Jan 1, 1987•1 citation

Waves, photons, atoms

Hermann Haken

Preface. List of symbols. 1. What is light? 2. The nature of light: waves or particles? 3. The nature of matter. Particles or waves? 4. Response of quantum systems to classical electromagnetic oscillations. 5. Quantization of the light field. 6. Quantization of electron wave field. 7. The interaction between light field and matter. 8. Quantum theory of coherence. 9. Dissipation and fluctuations in quantum optics. References. Subject index.

Elsevier eBooks•Jan 1, 1981•5 citations

Rate equations

Thomas Erneux, P. Glorieux

Modeling lasers may be realized with different levels of sophistication. Rigorously it requires a full quantum treatment but many laser dynamical properties may be captured by semiclassical or even purely classical approaches. In this book we deliberately chose the simplest point of view, i.e. purely classical equations, and try to extract analytically as much information as possible. The basic framework of our approach is provided by the rate equations . In their simplest version, they apply to an idealized active system consisting of only two energy levels coupled to a reservoir. They were introduced as soon as the laser was discovered to explain (regular or irregular, damped or undamped) intensity spikes commonly seen with solid state lasers (for a historical review, see the introduction in). These rate equations are discussed and sometimes derived from a semiclassical theory in textbooks on lasers. They capture the essential features of the response of a single-mode laser and they may be modified to account for specific effects such as the modulation of a parameter or optical feedback. The most basic processes involved in laser operation are schematically represented in Figure 1.1. N 1 and N 2 denote the number of atoms in the ground and excited levels, respectively. The process of light–matter interaction is restricted to stimulated emission and absorption.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Apr 29, 2010•0 citations

Fundamentals and applications

J. Weiner, Ping-Tong Ho

Preface.PART I: LIGHT-MATTER INTERACTION: FUNDAMENTALS.Absorption and Emission of Radiation.Semiclassical Treatment of Absorption and Emission.The Optical Bloch Equations.Optical Bloch Equations of a Two-Level Atom.Quantized Fields and Dressed States.Forces from Atom-Light Interaction.The Laser.Elements of Optics.Index.

Wiley eBooks•Jan 1, 2003•1,997 citations

Introduction

Guang S. He

Abstract Laser radiation is an intense coherent light field that is characterized by its high monochromatic brightness and high photon degeneracy. Thus, it is capable of generating various stimulated scattering effects and a series of multiphoton excitation-induced opto-physical and opto-chemical effects. There are two parallel theoretical regimes. The first regime is the semiclassical theory that treats light as a classical electromagnetic field described by Maxwell’s equations. The second regime is the quantum electrodynamic theory, which treats light as an assembly of photons obeying Bose–Einstein statistics. Both regimes can be complementarily adopted to describe the interaction of light radiation with matter.

•Feb 25, 2022•0 citations

Introduction to the Physics of Lasers

Surendra Singh

This textbook provides an accessible introduction to laser physics, exploring three key questions: What is special about laser light? What is the physics underlying its generation? And how can laser light be manipulated and used? The material is presented in a manner that helps the reader develop an understanding of the underlying physics principles and processes without getting bogged down in mathematical details, but there is enough mathematics for the understanding to be quantitative. The book begins by describing the special properties of laser light and focuses on the physics of light-matter interaction to understand how it acquires them. It builds upon Maxwells equations for light and the classical electron oscillator model for the atoms, augmented with a quantum mechanical picture of atomic energy levels, to provide an accurate physical understanding of light-matter interaction. This approach bypasses the need for a course in quantum theory. Derivations of key equations are included not only to help readers follow the development of the subject, but also to illustrate that to approximate, simplify, and get analytic results is integral to understanding any complex phenomenon. Subjects such as nonlinear pulse propagation and nonlinear optics are discussed, but only at a level that should help readers to get started in these fields. The choice of topics has been limited to atomic/molecular lasers to allow for their coverage in one semester-long course. Problems, references and illustrations are included throughout the book, making it an ideal textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate physics and engineering students. Students do not require prior knowledge of physics much beyond an undergraduate-level introduction to electromagnetic theory, including Maxwell’s equations, polarization in atomic media and electromagnetic wave propagation. Key features: · Provides a qualitative and quantitative understanding of, and appreciation for, the special properties of laser light · Explores quantum statistics of laser light · Presents an analytical approach to pulse formation

CRC Press eBooks•Sep 23, 2026•0 citations
Preface. List of symbols. 1. Introduction. 2. Basic properties and types of lasers. 3. Laser resonators. 4. The intensity of laser light. Rate equations. 5. The basic equations of the semiclassical laser theory. 6. Applications of semiclassical theory. 7. Ultrashort pulses. 8. Instability hierachies of laser light. Chaos, and routes to chaos. 9. Optical bistability. 10. Quantum theory of the laser I. A first approach via quantum mechanical Langevin equations. Coherence, noise and photon-statistics. 11. Quantum theory of the laser II. A second approach via the density matrix equation and quantum classical correspondence. 12 A theoretical treatment of the two-photon laser. 13. The laser - trailblazer of synergetics. References. Subject index.
This book is an edited version of lectures given by the authors at the 1985 Summer School on Lase Physics. The School was held in Jilin University in Changchun, Peoples' Republic of China. Contents: The book is divided into 2 parts, the first is ''An Outline of Laser Physics and Laser Instabilities'': An Introduction to the Theory of the Laser: The Rate Equations; The Interaction of Light and Matter: The Classical Picture; The Basic Laser Equations: Homogeneously Broadened Systems; Steady State Behavior of a Homogeneously Broadened Ring Laser; Linear Stability Analysis: The Resonant Case; The Adiabatic Elimination of the Fast Variables; Linear Stability Analysis: The General Case; The Single Mode Laser: Deterministic Chaos; Dynamical Behavior of the Maxwell-Bloch Equations; The Spectral Analysis of the Output Field; Theory of a Laser with Inhomogeneous Broadening. The second part is on the ''principles of Laser Physics and Laser Instabilities'': Background Notes for the Discussion of Experimental Laser Systems; Amplified Spontaneous Emission; The Two-Level Atom; Laser Cavities and Modes; Types of Laser Systems and Classification of Lasers; the Xe 3.51 ..mu..m Laser; Chaos in Single Mode Lasers; Forced Laser Systems, Modulated Lasers and Lasers with an Injected Signal; Dynamical Phenomena in Multimode Laser Systems.
Modeling lasers may be realized with different levels of sophistication. Rigorously it requires a full quantum treatment but many laser dynamical properties may be captured by semiclassical or even purely classical approaches. In this book we deliberately chose the simplest point of view, i.e. purely classical equations, and try to extract analytically as much information as possible. The basic framework of our approach is provided by the rate equations . In their simplest version, they apply to an idealized active system consisting of only two energy levels coupled to a reservoir. They were introduced as soon as the laser was discovered to explain (regular or irregular, damped or undamped) intensity spikes commonly seen with solid state lasers (for a historical review, see the introduction in). These rate equations are discussed and sometimes derived from a semiclassical theory in textbooks on lasers. They capture the essential features of the response of a single-mode laser and they may be modified to account for specific effects such as the modulation of a parameter or optical feedback. The most basic processes involved in laser operation are schematically represented in Figure 1.1. N 1 and N 2 denote the number of atoms in the ground and excited levels, respectively. The process of light–matter interaction is restricted to stimulated emission and absorption.
Abstract Laser radiation is an intense coherent light field that is characterized by its high monochromatic brightness and high photon degeneracy. Thus, it is capable of generating various stimulated scattering effects and a series of multiphoton excitation-induced opto-physical and opto-chemical effects. There are two parallel theoretical regimes. The first regime is the semiclassical theory that treats light as a classical electromagnetic field described by Maxwell’s equations. The second regime is the quantum electrodynamic theory, which treats light as an assembly of photons obeying Bose–Einstein statistics. Both regimes can be complementarily adopted to describe the interaction of light radiation with matter.
This textbook provides an accessible introduction to laser physics, exploring three key questions: What is special about laser light? What is the physics underlying its generation? And how can laser light be manipulated and used? The material is presented in a manner that helps the reader develop an understanding of the underlying physics principles and processes without getting bogged down in mathematical details, but there is enough mathematics for the understanding to be quantitative. The book begins by describing the special properties of laser light and focuses on the physics of light-matter interaction to understand how it acquires them. It builds upon Maxwells equations for light and the classical electron oscillator model for the atoms, augmented with a quantum mechanical picture of atomic energy levels, to provide an accurate physical understanding of light-matter interaction. This approach bypasses the need for a course in quantum theory. Derivations of key equations are included not only to help readers follow the development of the subject, but also to illustrate that to approximate, simplify, and get analytic results is integral to understanding any complex phenomenon. Subjects such as nonlinear pulse propagation and nonlinear optics are discussed, but only at a level that should help readers to get started in these fields. The choice of topics has been limited to atomic/molecular lasers to allow for their coverage in one semester-long course. Problems, references and illustrations are included throughout the book, making it an ideal textbook for advanced undergraduate and graduate physics and engineering students. Students do not require prior knowledge of physics much beyond an undergraduate-level introduction to electromagnetic theory, including Maxwell’s equations, polarization in atomic media and electromagnetic wave propagation. Key features: · Provides a qualitative and quantitative understanding of, and appreciation for, the special properties of laser light · Explores quantum statistics of laser light · Presents an analytical approach to pulse formation