Page 22 - Tunable Lasers Handbook

1 Introduction 5
A more specific example of the complementarity approach can be given in
reference to isotope separation. In this regard, the necessary spectroscopic infor-
mation including isotopic shifts, absorption linewidths, and hyperfine structure
can be studied using narrow-linewidth tunable cw lasers. On the other hand, for
successful large-scale laser isotope separation high-average-power pulsed tun-
able lasers are necessary [6,27]. A further example is the detection and treatment
of surface defects in optical surfaces being used in the transmission mode for
imaging applications. The detection and assessment of the surface defects is
accomplished using interferometry that applies tunable narrow-linewidth cw
lasers. Surface treatment requires the use of pulsed lasers operating in the high
prf regime.
Recently, complementarity in tunable lasers has been taken a step further
with the integration of systems that utilize complementary technologies to
achieve a given performance. An example is the use of a semiconductor-laser
oscillator and a dye-laser amplifier [42]. Also, the event of high-performance
solid-state dye-laser oscillators [43] has brought the opportunity to integrate
these oscillators into OPO systems [44].

3. GOAL OF THIS BOOK

The goal of this book is to provide an expeditious guide to tunable sources
of coherent radiation and their performance. Issues of physics and technology
are also considered when judged appropriate. In this book, this judgment has
been made by each individual contributor. Although the basic function of a
handbook is to tabulate relevant physical and performance data, many works
under that classification go beyond this basic format. In this book, several chap-
ters go beyond the classical concept of a handbook and provide a detailed dis-
cussion of the data presented.
From a practical perspective, the intended function of this book is to offer
scientists and engineers the means to gain an appreciation for the elements and
performance of tunable lasers and ultimately to assist the reader to determine the
merit of a particular laser relative to a given application.

3.1 Book Organization

The book is divided into nine chapters including this introduction. A chapter
on narrow-linewidth oscillators is introduced prior to the main collection of
chapters given the broad applicability of the subject matter. The main body of
the book is basically organized into two groups of chapters categorized as dis-
cretely tunable lasers and broadly tunable lasers. Discretely tunable lasers are
considered first because that also satisfies the more technocratic division of the