By R N Compton and M A Duncan
Oxford University Press
The book provides an introduction to the characteristics and operation of lasers through laboratory experiments for undergraduate students in physics and chemistry.
After a first section reviewing the properties of light, the history of laser invention, the atomic, molecular and optical principles behind how lasers work, as well as the kinds of lasers that are available today, the text presents a rich set of experiments on various topics: thermodynamics, chemical analysis, quantum chemistry, spectroscopy and kinetics.
Each chapter gives the historical and theoretical background to the topics covered by the experiments, and variations to the prescribed activities are suggested.
Both of the authors began their research careers at the time when laser technology was taking off, and witnessed advances in the development and application of this new technology to many fields. In this book they aim to pass on some of their experience to new students, and to stimulate practical activities in optics and lasers courses.
