Page 24 - High Power Laser Handbook

Introduction

ach chapter in this book serves as a stand-alone review of a
specific laser technology. We have grouped sets of chapters
Ecovering similar classes or related technologies into parts, with
the intent of providing some structure and a suggested reading order
for those who are not laser experts.
The first part (Chaps. 1–4) covers the basic functionality and dis-
cusses recent developments in specialized technologies of high-power
gas, chemical, and free-electron lasers. These technologies are, in some
regard, “mature,” in that research and development (R&D) invest-
ment in these areas collectively peaked some years ago, with interest
since being diverted into newer solid-phase technologies. Still, recent
and significant R&D activity, continued relevance to industrial and
military applications, and advances in source generation warrant their
inclusion in any treatise on high-power lasers.
The next part (Chaps. 5 and 6) covers the state of the art in semi-
conductor diode lasers, along with the associated technologies of
packaging, reliability, and beam shaping and delivery. Diode lasers
are by far the most widespread and economically significant laser
technology ever developed. The emergence of high-brightness, fiber-
delivered diode laser systems has opened many new applications in
materials processing. Moreover, as optical pump sources, diode lasers
have revolutionized the field of solid-state lasers and have enabled the
new and promising field of fiber lasers. Chapter 5 introduces the basic
concepts underlying semiconductor diode laser emitters, including
their manufacture, packaging, performance, and scaling. Chapter 6
extends this discussion to the packaging, power scaling, and fiber cou-
pling of diode emitter arrays in bars and stacks, as well as covering
some of the applications that are enabled by high-brightness diodes.
The largest part in this book (Chaps. 7–14) covers solid-state lasers
(SSLs). The size of this part reflects both the relative amount of R&D
that has been invested in SSL technology over the past decade and
the diversity of scaling approaches depending on whether the goal is
high continuous wave (CW) powers, high pulse energies, or high
peak powers. The continued high level of interest on the part of the
R&D community has elevated SSLs above other technologies as the
highest-performing, electrically powered lasers in terms of peak and
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