Laser Resonators and the Beam Divergence Problem

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.

FOREWORD BY A.E. SIEGMANINTRODUCTIONBriefly on the history and essence of the problemTHE LAWS OF LIGHT-BEAM PROPAGATIONFundamentals of the theory of multielement optical systemsLaws of propagation for major types of light beamsAngular divergence of radiationIDEAL RESONATORSGeneral information on open resonatorsClassification of open optical resonators and the condition of their equivalenceStable resonatorsPlane resonatorsUnstable resonatorBASIC CONCEPTS CONCERNING THE PROPERTIES OF REAL RESONATORS AND THE PROCESSES OCCURRING IN THEMSome experimental data and their discussionPrincipal kinds of perturbations and parasitic effectsLarge-scale aberrations and light scatteringMode competition in the onset of lasing and in steady-state operationPump energy conversion efficiency in laser resonatorsRESONATOR APPLICATIONS AND SPECIAL CONFIGURATIONSBasic resonator typesMethods of the angular selection of radiationResonators of lasers with controlled spectral and temporal characteristicsSpecific resonator configurationsTHE SIMPLEST CAUSES OF ABERRATIONS AND METHODS OF WAVEFRONT CORRECTIONThermal deformations of resonatorsOptico-mechanical and holographic methods of wavefront correction-stimulated scattering-based lasersWavefront conjugationAPPENDIXREFERENCESINDEX