Primary events in natural systems or devices occur on extremely short time scales, and yet determine in many cases the final performance or output. For this reason research in ultrafast science is of primary importance and impact in both fundamental research as well as its applications. This book reviews the advances in the field, addressing timely and open questions such as the role of quantum coherence in biology, the role of excess energy in electron injection at photovoltaic interfaces or the dynamics in quantum confined structures (e.g. multi carrier generation). The approach is that of a monograph, with a broad tutorial introduction and an overview of the recent results. This volume includes selected lectures presented at Symposium on Ultrafast Dynamics of the 7th International Conference on Materials for Advanced Technologies.

This volume is based on the works presented at the conference "Modern Problems in Optics and Photonics-2009," held in Yerevan Armenia. Covering virtually all actual themes in Optics: Structured media and quantum nanostructures, Quantum optics and quantum information, Spectroscopy and dynamics of atoms, both theoretical and experimental worksare examined and discussed extensively. This volume would capture the interest of experienced scientists as important, original results of 27 leading researchers from Armenia, Australia, Germany, Greece, India, Latvia, Russia, Singapore and United Kingdom are included. Surely, this volume could serve as an advanced textbook for graduate and undergraduate students as it contains not only the original works of prominent authors, but also detailed introductions and descriptions of early results of the presented branches of the optics.

Since the invention of the first laser 30 years ago, the frequency conversion of laser radiation in nonlinear optical crystals has become an important technique widely used in quantum electronics and laser physics for solving various scientific and engineering problems. The fundamental physics of three-wave light interactions in nonlinear optical crystals is now well understood. This has enabled the production of various harmonic generators, sum-and difference frequency generators, and optical parametric oscillators based on nonlinear optical crystals that are now commercially available. At the same time, scientists continue an active search for novel, highly efficient nonlinear optical materials. Therefore, in our opinion, there is a great need for a handbook of nonlinear optical crystals, intended for specialists and practitioners with an engineering background. This book contains a complete description of the properties and applications of all nonliner optical crystals of practical importance reported in the literature up to the beginning of 1990. In addition, it contains the most important equations for calculating the main parameters (such as phase-matching direction, effective nonlinearity, and conversion efficiency) of nonlinear frequency converters. Dolgoprudnyi, Yerevan, Troitzk v. G. Dmitriev USSR G. G. Gurzadyan October 1990 D. N. Nikogosyan Contents 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Optics of Nonlinear Crystals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . ."

Since the invention of the first laser 30 years ago, the frequency conversion of laser radiation in nonlinear optical crystals has become an important technique widely used in quantum electronics and laser physics for solving various scientific and engineering problems. The fundamental physics of three-wave light interactions in nonlinear optical crystals is now well understood. This has enabled the production of various harmonic generators, sum-and difference frequency generators, and optical parametric oscillators based on nonlinear optical crystals that are now commercially available. At the same time, scientists continue an active search for novel, highly efficient nonlinear optical materials. Therefore, in our opinion, there is a great need for a handbook of nonlinear optical crystals, intended for specialists and practitioners with an engineering background. This book contains a complete description of the properties and applications of all nonliner optical crystals of practical importance reported in the literature up to the beginning of 1990. In addition, it contains the most important equations for calculating the main parameters (such as phase-matching direction, effective nonlinearity, and conversion efficiency) of nonlinear frequency converters. Dolgoprudnyi, Yerevan, Troitzk v. G. Dmitriev USSR G. G. Gurzadyan October 1990 D. N. Nikogosyan Contents 1 Introduction. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Optics of Nonlinear Crystals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 . . . . . ."