This book covers the entire field of tunable lasers, with the exception of dye lasers. Following an introductory chapter on common general principles, the remaining chapters - all written by leading experts in the field - each treat a particular class of tunable laser or process. In each case, a theoretical treatment is combined with a detailed practical description of the lasers and their operation. The book is written so as to be readily accessible to researchers and students alike. It is especially intended to enable the non-expert to choose the most appropriate tunable laser for a specific application. In this second edition an added chapter with extensive references to recent literature reviews the advances that haveoccured since the publication of the original edition.

Lasers continue to be an amazingly robust field of activity. Anyone seeking a photon source is now confronted with an enormous number of possible lasers and laser wavelengths to choose from, but no single, comprehensive source to help them make that choice. The Handbook of Lasers provides an authoritative compilation of lasers, their properties, and original references in a readily accessible form. Organized by lasing media-solids, liquids, and gases-each section is subdivided into distinct laser types. Each type carries a brief description, followed by tables listing the lasing element or medium, host, lasing transition and wavelength, operating properties, primary literature citations, and, for broadband lasers, reported tuning ranges. The importance and value of the Handbook of Lasers cannot be overstated. Serving as both an archive and as an indicator of emerging trends, it reflects the state of knowledge and development in the field, provides a rapid means of obtaining reference data, and offers a pathway to the literature. It contains data useful for comparison with predictions and for developing models of processes, and may reveal fundamental inconsistencies or conflicts in the data.

Solitons are waves that retain their form through obstacle and distance. Solitons can be found in hydrodynamics, nonlinear optics, plasma physics, and biology. Optical solitons are solitary light waves that hold their form over an expansive interval. Conservation of this form creates an effective model for long distance voice and data transmission.
The application of this principle is essential to the technology of wired communications. Optical solitons produce crystal clear phone calls cross-country and internationally. It is because of these that someone on the other end of the phone sounds 'in the next room.' It is also pertinent to high-speed network information transmittal.
Mollenauer and Gordon have written the only text that an engineer or graduate student will need to understand this foundation subject in optics.
*Written by Linn Mollenauer and James Gordon who are celebrated for applying optical solitons to telecommnications
*Combines mathematical developments with well-chosen practical examples and design formulas
*Extensive material on the basic physics of fiber optic transmission and its practical applications