Optical Resonators - Science and Engineering. This item is unavailable.Optical Resonators - Science and Engineering

This book contains most, but regrettably not all, the papers that were presented at The Advanced Research Workshop, held July 1-5, 1997, at Smolenice Castle, Slovak Republic. The problem of angular divergence is of great importance in quantum electronics: low divergence is required not only in most of practical laser applications, but also for achieving high efficiency of parametric laser frequency conversion, and harmonic generation. The large volume of available studies aimed at improving the pump systems and the spectroscopic properties of lasing media, brought about no more than 2-3 fold increases in laser efficiency, while concurrent studies of angular divergence and the implementation of the findings, resulted in several order of magnitude of increases in radiance. The spatial beam structure that is formed in the laser cavity together with the active element constitute the most critical laser elements. The engineering devices, such as excitation systems, lasing gas circulation systems, etc., are usually at the top of the agenda of scientific meetings and of gatherings of engineering experts. The divergence problem has never been discussed by a broad community of experts in this field.

The spatial beam structure that is formed in the laser cavity together with the active element constitute the most critical laser elements. The engineering devices, such as excitation systems, lasing gas circulation systems, etc., are usually at the top of the agenda of scientific meetings: the divergence problem has never previously been discussed by a broad community of experts. The conversion of scientific and technological experience accumulated during the development of high power military laser, where efficiency was not necessarily the major driving force, into commercially viable industrial lasers will require attention to be focused on the general problems of beam divergence.The present book presents a dialogue between specialists in resonator cavity design from NATO and Cooperating Partner countries. The book is divided into four parts: Theory, in which fundamental questions of resonator physics and optical design are addressed; Theoretical and Practical Problems; The Design of Optical Elements; and The Optimization of Designs.