With the maturation of laser technology in diagnostic and conservation applications, conservation scientists, archeologists, art historians, researchers, and advanced science-oriented students now have the tools necessary for preserving the future of our past-our cultural heritage. Presenting recent developments in the field, Lasers in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Principles and Applications addresses the basic concepts of laser applications and supplies case studies of analytical, structural diagnostic, and laser cleaning applications. The book provides a comprehensive presentation of the fundamental principles and applications of modern laser technology in the analysis of composition, diagnostics of structural integrity, and conservation of artworks and antiquities. Beginning with an introduction to the basic techniques used in art conservation and archeology, the book describes the fundamental aspects of laser-matter interactions, emphasizing laser diagnostics and laser processing applications. The next few chapters focus on laser-based spectroscopic techniques for the analysis of the composition of materials in art and archaeology, including laser-induced breakdown, Raman, and laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopic techniques. The book proceeds to highlight nondestructive diagnostic techniques, laser processing applications, laser applications for the cleaning of paintings and stone, and methods for the removal of encrustations. It concludes with case studies for the conservation of materials like parchment, paper, metal, ivory, and wood, and includes conservation approaches for modern paintings. Bridging science with art, Lasers in the Preservation of Cultural Heritage presents a systematic overview of the fundamentals and applications of laser techniques in artwork conservation and archeological science.

Covering both underlying theory and practical applications, Laser Safety provides a unique and readily-understandable review of current laser safety. This resource explains in detail the biological effects of laser radiation, particularly on the eye, and the provisions and requirements of the international laser safety standard IEC 60825-1, including a full description of the recently revised system of laser classification. It elucidates the rationale for the often-complex laser emission and exposure limits given in the standard, and provides detailed guidance for using the standard to carry out quantitative laser assessments. The authors also discuss practical issues of risk assessment, safety controls, eye protection, and laser safety management. This practical and comprehensive handbook will be useful for anyone involved in laser safety, including academic and medical researchers, laser manufacturers, and compliance officers.

The Interaction of High-Power Lasers with Plasmas provides a thorough self-contained discussion of the physical processes occurring in laser-plasma interactions, including a detailed review of the relevant plasma and laser physics. The book analyzes laser absorption and propagation, electron transport, and the relevant plasma waves in detail. It also discusses the physics of the electric and magnetic fields in a laser-induced plasma medium, laser-induced shock waves, rarefaction waves, heat waves, and the related hydrodynamic instabilities (Rayleigh-Taylor, Richtmyer-Meshkov, and Kelvin-Helmholtz).
A pedagogical presentation, the book addresses the basic physics issues from first principles, using simple models wherever appropriate. The coverage provides a foundation on which the graduate student can build an understanding of the past and present research in this field. For the experienced researcher, the book is a comprehensive and useful presentation of laser-plasma interactions.

Contents:
Introduction to the Series Preface List of Notation and Symbols Introduction 1. Development of the Combined Laser-Arc Processes for Joining and Treatment of Materials (Survey) 1.1 Effects of the Simultaneous Action of the Laser Beam and the Electric Arc on a Workpiece 1.2 Schemes for Partical Realisation of Laser-Arc Welding, Cutting and Surface Treatment 1.3 Energy Characteristics and Technological Potentialities of the Combined Laser-Arc Heat Source 1.4 Mutual Effects of the Laser Beam and the Electric Arc in Combined Processes 2. Laser Beam-Arc Plasma Interaction and the Combined Discharge 2.1 Physical Basis of Laser Beam and Arc Plasma Interaction and Mathematical Model of the Laser-Arc Discharge 2.2 Thermal, Transport and Optical Properties of the Combined Discharge Plasma 2.3 Analysis of the Results of the Laser-Arc Discharge Simulation 3. Integrated Plasma Torches for Laser-Arc Processes 3.1 Methods and Devices for Practical Realisation of the Combined Discharge 3.2 Theoretical Basis and Calculation Technique of the Laser-Arc Plasma Torches 3.3 Simulation of the Integrated Plasma Torch for Laser-Plasma Powder Deposition 4. Practical Applications of Laser-Arc Processes 4.1 Hybrid Serial (Combined) Methods - Two Kinds of Laser-Arc Processes 4.2 Laser + Gas Tungsten Arc Welding 4.3 Laser + Gas Metal Arc Welding 4.4 Laser + Plasma Arc Welding 4.5 Combined Laser Beam + Submerged Arc Welding 4.6 Combined Laser Beam + HIGH SPEED Welding 4.7 Hybrid Carbon Dioxide + High Power Diode Laser Welding 4.8 Laser Aided Thermal Spraying and Powder Cladding References Index

This thesis discusses the power scaling of ultrashort pulses in enhancement cavities, utilized in particular for frequency conversion processes, such as Thomson scattering and high-harmonic generation. Using custom optics for ultrashort-pulse enhancement cavities, it demonstrates for the first time that at the envisaged power levels, the mitigation of thermal effects becomes indispensable even in cavities comprising solely reflective optics. It also studies cavities with large beams, albeit with low misalignment sensitivity, as a way to circumvent intensity-induced mirror damage. Average powers of several hundred kilowatts are demonstrated, which benefit hard x-ray sources based on Thomson scattering. Furthermore, pulses as short as 30 fs were obtained at more than 10 kW of average power and employed for high-harmonic generation with photon energies exceeding 100 eV at 250 MHz repetition rate, paving the way for frequency comb spectroscopy in this spectral region.

This book discusses both the theoretical and practical aspects of optics, photonics and lasers, presenting new methods, technologies, advanced prototypes, systems, tools and techniques as well as a general survey indicating future trends and directions. The main fields addressed include nonlinear optical phenomena, photonics for energy, high-field phenomena, photonic and optoelectronic sensors and devices, optical communications, biomedical optics and photonics. It also covers a large spectrum of materials, ranging from semiconductor-based optical materials to optical glasses, organic materials, photorefractive materials and nanophotonic materials, as well as applications such as metrology, optometry, adaptive optics, all optical instrumentation, optical communications, quantum information, lighting technologies, energy harvesting and optically based biomedical diagnosis and therapeutics.

Discusses the essential principles, operating characteristics, and cur rent technology of the main fiber laser and amplifier devices based on rare-earth-doped silica and fluorozirconate fibers. Describes the pri nciples, designs, and properties of the erbium-doped fiber amplifier a nd its role as the cornerstone component in optical communication syst ems. Second Edition contains more than 75% new or revised materials re flecting major developments in academia and industry.

Lasers in Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy Edited by Joseph Sneddon • Terry L. Thiem • Yong-Ill Lee This book focuses primarily on the use of lasers in analytical atomic spectroscopy with optical detection, and also includes a chapter describing the use of lasers in inductively coupled plasma—mass spectroscopy (ICP—MS). The book begins with a brief introduction to atomic spectroscopy and lasers, providing the reader with basic theory and information on instrumentation in conventional atomic spectroscopy. Next, the properties, types, and principles of lasers are discussed using a non-mathematical approach. The main section of the book provides detailed descriptions of the four major areas of laser application in analytical atomic spectroscopy, each discussed by an expert in the field: laser excited atomic fluorescence spectrometry (LEAFS); laser ablation for sample introduction, particularly in inductively coupled plasma—atomic emission spectrometry (ICP—AES) and ICP—MS; laser induced breakdown (emission) spectrometry (LIBS); and laser-enhanced ionization (LEI) spectrometry. Lasers in Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy will be of interest to spectroscopists, analytical chemists, and graduate students in these areas. Also available from VCH Applied Laser Spectroscopy Techniques, Instrumentation, and Applications D.L. Andrews, ed. Hardcover. ISBN 1-56081-023-8 Inductively Coupled Plasmas in Analytical Atomic Spectroscopy Second, Revised and Enlarged Edition A. Montaser and D.W. Golightly, eds. Hardcover. ISBN 1-56081-514-0 Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Second, Completely Revised Edition B. Welz Hardcover. ISBN 3-527-26193-1

Understanding Laser Accidents provides a comprehensive reference addressing a wide a spectrum of laser accidents. The under-reporting and misreporting of laser accidents creates a blind spot for the laser management of institutions, laser users and laser safety officers. This book attempts to lift that veil. By giving details of why laser accidents occur, accident preparation, where to find laser accident information, elements of laser accident investigation, role of lessons learned and regulatory oversight of laser use. Chapters include a look at pilot illumination, fiber telecommunication, light show incidents and more as well as a detailed and honest review of three laser events that hold a mirror up to researchers and industrial laser users. * Provides a comprehensive, single source devoted to laser accidents * Covers elements of laser accident preparedness * Provides detailed analysis of some laser accidents that share common threads across the research and industrial environment * Contains information on where to find laser accident information * Extensive information on the illumination of pilots * Reviews laser regulatory oversight, non-beam hazards and laser safety tools

This practical handbook describes the basic principles and applications of confocal laser scanning microscopy. Information is given on the purpose of, and practical requirements for, the different imaging modes. Guidance is also provided on sample preparation and imaging protocols. The limitations and sensitivity of each method are discussed, imaging applications are illustrated and recent developments in the field are described.

This book provides a comprehensive overview of the field of free electron lasers. Each chapter is based on a graduate-level lecture given by an internationally known expert in the field, and is self-contained, beginning with introductory background material and culminating in an in-depth discussion of the author's current research. Written with both the student physicist and the active researcher in mind, this book is sure to be a valuable reference for graduate students and professionals alike.

Laser approaches to combustion diagnostics are of considerable interest due to their remote, non-intrusive and in-situ character, unlimited temperature capability, and potential for simultaneous temporal and spatial resolution. This book aims to make these powerful and important new tools in combustion research understandable. Focuses on spectroscopically-based, spatially-precise, laser techniques for temperature and chemical composition measurements in reacting and non-reacting flows. Following introductory chapters on basic spectroscopy, laser physics, experimental methods and practical considerations, treats each of the major techniques in some detail, replete with measurement examples and references. Concludes with a treatment of field methods which employs the various techniques to perform measurements simultaneously over a two-dimensional slice of the medium being probed.

By the end of the 1970s, crystalline lasers were widely used in science, engineering, medicine, and technology. The types of lasers used have continued to grow in number to include newly discovered crystalline hosts, previously known compounds generating at other spectral wavelengths, and broadband tunable stimulated emission. This has led to the creation of an extremely promising new generation of crystalline lasers that are both highly efficient and more reliable. The major part of this book is devoted to describing multilevel operating laser schemes for stimulated emission excitation in insulating crystals doped with lanthanide ions.

The first part of Crystalline Lasers deals with the history of the physics and spectroscopy of insulating laser crystals. The chapters in the second part of the book present results from the study of Stark-energy levels of generating ions in laser crystals and their radiative and nonradiative intermanifold transition characteristics. This section includes extensive tabular data and reference information. Popular and novel operating schemes of crystalline lasers are covered in Part 3.

In the chapters in the fourth part of the book, the newest technologies in the physics and engineering of crystalline lasers are considered. The results of investigations into laser action under selective excitations, miniature crystalline lasers, and the properties of nonlinear activated laser crystals are presented and analyzed.
Crystalline Lasers summarizes and reviews the results of many years of research and studies of activator ions and multilevel operating laser schemes, and discusses exciting prospects of using these systems to create new types of crystalline lasers. This book will be of use to laser scientists and engineers, physicists, and chemical engineers.

X-Ray Lasers 1996 provides not only an overview and progress report on this fast moving field, but also important reference material on which future work can be built. Topics covered include collisional x-ray lasers, table-top x-ray lasers, beam optics, x-ray optics, OFI and photo-pumped schemes, capillary schemes, international laser facilities, XUV nonlinear mixing, alternative soft x-ray sources, diagnostics, and applications. The volume is an essential addition to the libraries of researchers in the field.

This volume considers optical parametric generation and amplification (OPG/OPA), as a means for producing a tunable optical parametric device. It reviews the OPA/OPG systems using various crystals pumped by lasers at various frequencies with pulse duration ranging from picoseconds to femtoseconds. Part two covers the theoretical background for design of an OPA/OPG system, using two newly discovered nonlinear crystals. Experimental design considerations are discussed in section three, including the section of nonlinear crystals, pumping sources and optical configurations. In section four, the experimental results obtained are compared with the theoretical calculations.

The search for table-top and repetitive pump schemes during the last decade has been the driving force behind the spectacular advances demonstrated during the 10th International Conference on X-Ray Lasers, organized in 2006 in Berlin. Since 1986, international experts have gathered every two years at this established conference to discuss the progress in theory, experiment and application of plasma-based soft X-ray lasers. Traditionally, the conference sessions devoted to complementary and alternative sources of short wavelength radiation, such as high harmonics, XFEL or incoherent X-rays are organized so as to emphasize the role of X-ray laser research in relation to the other short wavelength sources. Grazing incidence pumping (GRIP) and seeding with high harmonics were the dominant topics of the conference. High repetition rate and portable X-ray lasers were reported to have been applied in metrology and photochemistry for the first time.

This work provides a perspective on the creation of a scientific discipline. The reader is led to meet the actual people who have contributed to this field and know their trials as well as breakthroughs. From 1800 to 1930, Brand preserves the thread of scientific thought and activity through six generations of working scientists.

The book introduces optical wave propagation in the irregular turbulent atmosphere and the relations to laser beam and LIDAR applications for both optical communication and imaging. It examines atmosphere fundamentals, structure, and content. It explains specific situations occurring in the irregular atmosphere and for specific natural phenomena that affect optical ray and laser beam propagation. It emphasizes how to use LIDAR to investigate atmospheric phenomena and predict primary parameters of the irregular turbulent atmosphere and suggests what kinds of optical devices to operate in different atmospheric situations to minimize the deleterious effects of natural atmospheric phenomena.

Laser-Based Optical Detection of Explosives offers a comprehensive review of past, present, and emerging laser-based methods for the detection of a variety of explosives. This book: Considers laser propagation safety and explains standard test material preparation for standoff optical-based detection system evaluation Explores explosives detection using deep ultraviolet native fluorescence, Raman spectroscopy, laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy, reflectometry, and hyperspectral imaging Examines photodissociation followed by laser-induced fluorescence, photothermal methods, cavity-enhanced absorption spectrometry, and short-pulse laser-based techniques Describes the detection and recognition of explosives using terahertz-frequency spectroscopic techniques Each chapter is authored by a leading expert on the respective technology, and is structured to supply historical perspective, address current advantages and challenges, and discuss novel research and applications. Readers are left with an in-depth understanding and appreciation of each technology's capabilities and potential for standoff hazard detection.

Professor Yurii A. Anan'ev has a long-standing international reputation for his publications on optical beams and resonators. Now many of his contributions will be readily available for the first time in a book. The generation of maximum power, minimum divergence beams from laser resonators is probably the most important topic in quantum electronics and optics today. The only book of its kind, Laser Resonators and the Beam Divergence Problem covers not only the theory, but also the applications of resonators to real systems as opposed to idealized models. Each rigorous examination of an optical configuration is accompanied by a detailed discussion of its associated applications and of the considerations for the user in practical work. The book contains a wealth of information on the developments in resonator technology, including much material previously unavailable outside the Soviet Union. It is an essential reference source to every researcher in laser science and technology.

The first book devoted to laser techniques in the generation and reception of ultrasonic waves in materials, Laser Ultrasonics: Techniques and Applications provides a full description of the state of the art in all fields involving both lasers and ultrasonics. This practical book focuses mainly on the possible applications of the techniques, yet theory is discussed wherever necessary. After an introduction to ultrasonics and laser technology, the book reviews acousto-optics, various acousto-optic devices, and noninterferometric optical methods of measuring ultrasonic displacements. The authors then describe opto-acoustic techniques, discussing laser interferometry, including reference-beam, velocity, and Fabry-Perot systems, and their application to ultrasonic measurement on different surfaces. The authors also detail the generation of ultrasound as a consequence of the absorption of laser light in material. The book proceeds to discuss applications of laser-generated ultrasound, both by itself and in combination with laser interferometric reception to form an entirely remote and non-contact measurement and testing system. Comparisons with nonoptical techniques for ultrasonic generation and detection are made where appropriate. The book concludes with a discussion of the future developments and uses of laser techniques in ultrasonics, with particular reference to nondestructive testing.

Contains the latest revision of ANSI standards for safe use of lasers. A workbench guide that explains how a laser works, what a laser beam can do to biological tissue and eyewear lenses, and how to work safely with lasers. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.

This book discusses the physics of plasma initiation and reviews the features of dissipating, propagating plasmas. It deals with advances in diagnostics for high-energy, laser-fusion plasmas. The book reviews the basic physical processes, plasma characteristics of the "continuous optical discharge".

This book provides an introduction on applications of lasers in Chemistry. It describes laser as a tool for chemistry, the consideration involved in describing a laser beam and what happens to beam as it is propagated through a gas. The book is useful for graduates and advanced undergraduates.

The fiber laser, with its humble beginning in the late 1980s, has undergone tremendous development in the past decade or so, transforming itself from a research curiosity to a major force in modern manufacturing. Today, it is revolutionizing our economy by fundamentally changing the way we mark, machine, and process materials on an industrial scale. The recent development of high-power fiber lasers is also fundamentally shaping a wide range of other areas from physical sciences and medicine to geology and space exploration. In the past few years, the tactical deployment of direct energy weapons based on fiber lasers has become a reality. The development of fiber lasers is rooted in a number of technical areas including optical materials, optical waveguide design, nonlinear optics, optical fiber fabrication, and optical characterization, in addition to optical fiber components, and fiber laser design and architecture. No comprehensive in-depth coverage of such diverse topical areas has appeared in a single book. Many important developments have taken place in the past decade in both academia and industry. This book comprehensively covers the basics, technology and applications of fiber lasers including up-to-date developments in both academia and industry and is aimed to serve as both an introduction and research aid for graduate students, engineers, and scientists who are new to this field and also for veterans in the field