This section would be useful for graduate and postgraduate students, engineering graduates and technologists who are curious to know Lasers. The page briefly explains the principle or physics of lasers with some sketches for tutorial including references from other sites/publications. Tentative list of topics is given below. Suggestions are welcome for its improvement.
Since much work is involved in finalizing each section, it is proposed to post the material topic wise in parts.
List of Topics
History of Lasers
(Chronology, Masers, Lasers, First laser, Present Status etc.)
Properties of Lasers
(Coherence, divergence, brightness, monochromatic, transverse and longitudinal modes, frequency etc. with examples)
Principles of Lasing Action
(Absorption / Emission, Spontaneous Emission, Stimulated Emission, Einstein coefficients A & B, Population inversion etc)
Generation
(Pumping mechanisms i.e. Electrical discharge, Optical, Chemical, Threshold pumping, Small Signal gain, Saturation intensity, Threshold gain, Condition for optimum transmission etc. Example of a particular laser such as Ruby)
Types of Lasers
(Solid State Lasers, Semiconductor/diode lasers Fiber lasers, Dye lasers, Excimer lasers, Gas Lasers such as He-Ne, Argon ion, CO2; High power lasers such as Gas Dynamic lasers, Chemical lasers; X-ray lasers, Free electron lasers etc.)
Laser Materials
(Laser crystals, laser glasses, laser hosts, lasing ions etc.)
Laser Applications
(General applications including industrial, medical, defense etc.)
Laser Safety
(Classification, hazards, protection standards etc.)
References and related links