Review
From reviews of the first edition: ‘Serve[s] as an excellent textbook for teaching advanced undergraduate and graduate students about lasers … present[s] all of the information needed for a basic understanding of lasers … Silfvast does an excellent job of presenting a well-organized and thoughtful book. The figures are exceptionally clear and informative, and the use of highlighting equations throughout is particularly useful … a useful text for the student as well as the practicing scientist or engineer …’ Jim Tatum, Optics & Photonics News
‘Silfvast is an excellent explainer … a fresh approach. Laser Fundamentals is a good read, and I recommend it to students and teachers alike.’ William B. Bridges, Physics Today
‘ … provides a comprehensive introduction to the physical and engineering principles of laser operation and design.’ International Aerospace Abstracts
Product Description
A well-known introduction to the physical and engineering principles of laser operation and design for graduates and researchers who specialize in lasers, this second edition includes much new material, especially in the areas of solid-state lasers, semiconductor lasers, and laser cavities. Throughout the text, this book uses simple explanations on key concepts, to lead the reader from the basics of laser action to advanced topics in laser physics and engineering. The new edition contains a new chapter on laser operation above threshold, including extensive discussion of laser amplifiers. Thorough explanations, worked examples, and many homework problems make this book essential reading for undergraduates and first-year graduates in science and engineering taking courses on lasers. Researchers will find summaries of key types of lasers, the use of many unique theoretical descriptions, and the extensive bibliography a valuable source of reference for their careers.