Lasers and Their Prospects

Front Cover
Title Page
Contents
Introduction
CHAPTER 1 The Nature of Light
PARTICLES OR WAVES?
PHOTONS - QUANTA OF LIGHT
CHAPTER 2 Atom as Quantum System
QUANTUM CONCEPTS ON THE ATOMIC STRUCTURE
STRUCTURE OF THE ATOM. QUANTUM NUMBERS
RADIATION AND ABSORPTION
DISTRIBUTION OF PARTICLES AMONG ENERGY LEVELS
ACTIVE SYSTEMS
CHAPTER 3 Generators of Light
RUBY LASER
PROPERTIES OF LASER BEAM
ACTIVE MATERIALS
METHODS AND SOURCES OF EXCITATION
RESONANT SYSTEMS
CONTINUOUS-WAVE LASERS
GLASS LASERS
GIANT PULSES
GAS LASERS
METHODS OF CONCENTRATING GAS LASER RADIATION AT ONE FREQUENCY
LIQUID LASERS
SEMICONDUCTOR LASERS
CHAPTER 4 Application of Lasers
LASERS IN COMMUNICATIONS
LIGHT BEAM MODULATION METHODS
BEAM WAVEGUIDES
LASERS IN COMPUTERS
APPLICATION OF LASERS IN METROLOGY
LASERS IN CHEMISTRY
LASERS IN PHOTOGRAPHY
LASERS FOR TREATING OF MATERIALS
LASER GYROSCOPES
LASERS IN DETECTION AND RANGING
LASER RANGE FINDERS
LASER TRACKING OF SATELLITES
LASERS IN SPACE EQUIPMENT
COMMUNICATION WITH SPACECRAFT DURING ATMOSPHERIC RE-ENTRY
DETECTION AND COMMUNICATIONS UNDER THE SEA
LASERS IN MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY
CHAPTER 5 Lasers and Science
TESTING EINSTEIN'S THEORY OF RELATIVITY
MEASURING TIIE DRIFT OF CONTINENTS BY MEANS OF LASERS
LASERS FOR GEODETIC STUDIES AND ATMOSPHERIC SOUNDING
MEASURING OF SPEEDS
LASER SPACE COMMUNICATIONS
CHAPTER 6 The Prospects of Lasers
PIPELINE OUT OF A LASER BEAM
LASERS AND COMMUNICATIONS WITH EXTRATERRESTRIAL CIVILIZATIONS
SPACESHIP OF THE FUTURE
LOOKING AHEAD
Back Cover