Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the Second Edition
- 1 Electromagnetic waves, light, and lasers
- 2 Optical frequency amplifiers
- 3 An introduction to two practical laser systems
- 4 Optical resonators containing amplifying media
- 5 Laser radiation
- 6 Control of laser oscillators
- 7 Optically pumped solid-state lasers
- 8 Gas lasers
- 9 Molecular gas lasers I
- 10 Molecular gas lasers II
- 11 Tunable lasers
- 12 Semiconductor lasers
- 13 Passive optical systems
- 14 Periodic optical systems, resonators, and inhomogeneous media
- 15 The optics of Gaussian beams
- 16 Optical fibers and waveguides
- 17 The optics of anisotropic media
- 18 The electro-optic and acousto-optic effects and modulation of light beams
- 19 Introduction to nonlinear processes
- 20 Wave propagation in nonlinear media
- 21 Detection of optical radiation
- 22 Coherence theory
- 23 Laser applications
- Appendix 1 Optical terminology
- Appendix 2 The ´-function
- Appendix 3 Black-body radiation formulas
- Appendix 4 RLC circuits
- Appendix 5 Storage and transport of energy by electromagnetic fields
- Appendix 6 The reflection and refraction of a plane electromagnetic wave at a boundary between two isotropicmedia of different refractive indices
- Appendix 7 The vector differential equation for light rays
- Appendix 8 Symmetry properties of crystals and the 32 crystal classes
- Appendix 9 Tensors
- Appendix 10 Bessel-function relations
- Appendix 11 Green's functions
- Appendix 12 Recommended values of some physical constants
- Index
- References
23 - Laser applications
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 June 2014
Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Preface to the Second Edition
- 1 Electromagnetic waves, light, and lasers
- 2 Optical frequency amplifiers
- 3 An introduction to two practical laser systems
- 4 Optical resonators containing amplifying media
- 5 Laser radiation
- 6 Control of laser oscillators
- 7 Optically pumped solid-state lasers
- 8 Gas lasers
- 9 Molecular gas lasers I
- 10 Molecular gas lasers II
- 11 Tunable lasers
- 12 Semiconductor lasers
- 13 Passive optical systems
- 14 Periodic optical systems, resonators, and inhomogeneous media
- 15 The optics of Gaussian beams
- 16 Optical fibers and waveguides
- 17 The optics of anisotropic media
- 18 The electro-optic and acousto-optic effects and modulation of light beams
- 19 Introduction to nonlinear processes
- 20 Wave propagation in nonlinear media
- 21 Detection of optical radiation
- 22 Coherence theory
- 23 Laser applications
- Appendix 1 Optical terminology
- Appendix 2 The ´-function
- Appendix 3 Black-body radiation formulas
- Appendix 4 RLC circuits
- Appendix 5 Storage and transport of energy by electromagnetic fields
- Appendix 6 The reflection and refraction of a plane electromagnetic wave at a boundary between two isotropicmedia of different refractive indices
- Appendix 7 The vector differential equation for light rays
- Appendix 8 Symmetry properties of crystals and the 32 crystal classes
- Appendix 9 Tensors
- Appendix 10 Bessel-function relations
- Appendix 11 Green's functions
- Appendix 12 Recommended values of some physical constants
- Index
- References
Summary
When the laser was first invented, it was described as “a solution looking for a problem.” This comment did not long survive scrutiny, and nowadays lasers are ubiquitous in many aspects of daily life, with many technological, artistic, and educational applications. This chapter highlights some of the important application areas where lasers have become essential.
Optical communication systems
Introduction
Optical communications systems have a long history. Ancient man signaled with smoke and fire, often relaying messages from mountain top to mountain top. However, this optical communication scheme had limited transmission capacity. Such messages could serve as a warning, as Queen Elizabeth the First of England planned when she had a network of bonfires erected to be set in the event of a seaborne invasion from Spain. The smoke signals transmitted by native Americans had the capacity to transmit various messages. Since the end of the eighteenth century,messages have been passed by semaphore – the use of flags to indicate the transmission of one letter at a time. This form of communication could transmit information at a rate of about one letter per second over a direct line of sight, although messages could be relayed over long distances. Such means of communication were not very secure: anyone in the line of sight to the message sender could read the information (if he or she knew the code).
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Lasers and Electro-opticsFundamentals and Engineering, pp. 783 - 820Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2014
References
[2] , “On some phenomena connected with the motion of liquids,” Royal Inst. Great Britain Proc. 1, 446–148, 1854.Google Scholar
[3] and , “Dielectric-fiber surface waveguides for optical frequencies,” Proc. IEEE 113, 1151–1158, 1966.Google Scholar
[4] , , and , “Radiation losses in glass optical waveguides,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 17, 423–425, 1970.Google Scholar
[5] , , , and , “Ultimate low-loss single-mode fiber at 1.55 μm,” Electron. Lett. 15, 106–108, 1979.Google Scholar
[6] , , , , , , , and , “Space division multiplexed transmission of 109-Tb/s data signals using homogeneous seven-core fiber,” J. Lightwave Technol. 30, 659–665, 2012.Google Scholar
[7] , , , , , , and , “8 Tb/s long haul transmission over low dispersion fibers using 100 Gb/s PDM-QPSK channels paired with coherent detection,” Bell Labs Tech. J. 14, 27–45, 2010.Google Scholar
[8] , , , , , , , , , , , and , “69.1 Tb/s (432 × 171 Gb/s) C and extended L band transmission over 240 km using PDM 16-QAM modulation and digital coherent detection,” post-deadline paper presented at OFC 2010, San Diego, California, 2010.Google Scholar
[11] and , “Online connection provisioning in metro optical WDM networks using reconfigurable OADMs,” J. Lightwave Technol. 23, 2893–2901, 2005.Google Scholar
[12] , , and , “A review of routing and wavelength assignment approaches for wavelength-routed optical WDM networks,” Optical Networks Magazine January, 47–60, 2000.Google Scholar
[15] , Fiber Optic Communications, 5th edn., Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 2005.Google Scholar
[16] , Optical Communication Systems, 2nd edn., Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall 1993.Google Scholar
[19] , Pulse Code Formats for Fiber Optical Data Communication, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1983.Google Scholar
[20] , , , , and , “A review of communication-oriented optical wireless systems,” EURASIP J. Wireless Commun. Networking 91, April, 1–28, 2012.Google Scholar
[21] and , Laser Beam Propagation through Random Media, 2nd edn., Bellingham, WA: SPIE Press, 1998.Google Scholar
[22] , , and , “Flexible optical high data rate wireless links and networks,” IEEE Commun. Mag., March, 51–57, 2003.Google Scholar
[23] , , , , , and , “Free-space optical communications for next-generation military networks,” IEEE Commun. Mag., November, 46–51, 2006.Google Scholar
[24] and , “Wavefronts reconstruction with continuous-tone objects,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. 53, 1377–1381, 1963.Google Scholar
[25] and , “Wavefront reconstruction with diffused illumination and three-dimensional objects,” J. Opt. Soc. Am. 54, 1295–1301, 1969.Google Scholar
[29] , “Microscopy by reconstructed wavefronts: II,” Proc. Phys. Soc. (London) 64, 449–469, 1951.Google Scholar
[32] , Optical Holography: Principles, Techniques and Applications, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1996.Google Scholar
[34] , An Introduction to Coherent Optics and Holography, New York: Academic Press, 1969.Google Scholar
[37] , “Principles and applications of holography,” in Applied Optics and Optical Engineering, Vol. 6, eds. and , New York: Academic Press, 1980.Google Scholar
[39] , Introduction to Fourier Optics, 3rd edn., Greenwood Village, CO: Roberts and Co., 2005.Google Scholar
[40] , Systems and Transforms with Applications in Optics, Malabar, FL: Krieger Publishing Co., 1981.Google Scholar
[41] , The Fourier Transform and Its Applications to Optics, 2nd edn., New York: Wiley, 1983.Google Scholar
[42] , Linear Systems, Fourier Transforms, and Optics, 2nd edn., New York: Wiley, 1978.Google Scholar
[43] and , “Diffraction efficiency of bleached photographically recorded interference patterns,” Appl. Opt. 8, 85–89, 1969.Google Scholar
[44] and , “Amplitude and phase holograms exposed on Agfa-Gevaert 10E75 planes,” Appl. Opt. 8, 2453–2454, 1969.Google Scholar
[45] , Speckle Phenomena in Optics: Theory and ApplicationsGreenwood Village, CO: Robert and Co., 2007.Google Scholar
[47] , ed., Laser Speckle and Related Phenomena, 2nd edn., Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1984.
[50] , , and , Applications of Holography and Optical Data Processing, New York: Pergamon, 1977.Google Scholar
[52] , ed., Optical Information Processing, Berlin: Springer-Verlag, 1981.
[53] , ed., Lasers in Medicine, Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, 2001.
[54] , “Laser in situ keratomileusis vs. laser epithelial keratomileusis (LASIK vs. LASEK),” J. Refractive Surgery 17, S219–S221, 2001.Google Scholar
[55] , “Expanding role of ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy for treatment of proximal ureteral and intrarenal calculi,” Current Opinion Urol., 12, 277–280, 2002.Google Scholar
[56] and , “Laser angioplasty: potential effects and current limitations,” in Textbook of Interventional Cardiology, ed. , Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders, 1990, pp. 724–737.Google Scholar
[57] , , , , and , “Excimer lasers in cardiovascular surgery: ablation products and photoacoustic spectrum of arterial wall,” Appl. Phys. Lett. 48, 878–880, 1986.Google Scholar
[58] Committee on a Scientific Assessment of Free-Electron Laser Technology for Naval Applications, National Research Council, “Scientific Assessment of High-Power Free-Electron Laser Technology,” 66 pages, 2008 (free download available at http://www.nap.edu/catalog/12484.html).
[59] and , “Laser isotope separation (review). I,” Sov. J. Quant. Electron. 6, 129–150, 1976.Google Scholar
[60] and , “Laser isotope separation (review). II,” Sov. J. Quant. Electron. 6, 249–276, 1976.Google Scholar
[61] , , and , “Laser-induced chemical reactions and isotope separation,” in Laser Handbook, Vol. III, ed. , Amsterdam: North-Holland, 1979, pp. 485–576.Google Scholar
[64] , , , , and , “Explanation of the selective dissociation of the SF6 molecule in a strong IR laser field,” JETP Lett., 23, 22–25, 1976.Google Scholar
[65] , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , and , “Demonstration of a soft X-ray amplifier,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 110–113, 1985.Google Scholar
[66] , , , , , , , , , , , , and , “Exploding-foil technique for achieving a soft X-ray laser,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 106–109, 1985.Google Scholar
[67] , , , , and , “Amplification of stimulated soft X-ray emission in a confined plasma column,” Phys. Rev. Lett. 55, 1753–1756, 1985.Google Scholar
[68] , “The engineering of magnetic fusion reactors,” Scient. Am. 249, October, 60–71, 1983.Google Scholar
[69] , “The National Ignition Facility: an experimental platform for studying behavior of matter under extreme conditions,” Astrophys. Space Sci. 336, 37, 2011.Google Scholar
[70] , “The National Ignition Facility and the National Ignition Campaign” IEEE Trans. Plasma Sci. 38, 684–689, 2010.Google Scholar
[71] and , “Direct drive cryogenic ICF capsules employing DT wetted foam,” Nucl. Fusion 27, 447–452, 1987.Google Scholar
[72] , , , and , “Laser compression of matter to super-high densities: thermonuclear (CTR) applications,” Nature 249, 139–142, 1972.Google Scholar
[73] , , , and , “Prospects of generating power with laser-driven fusion,” Proc. IEEE 64, 1460–1482, 1976.Google Scholar