Understanding lasers

Designed for a broad readership, this revised edition explains how lasers work without assuming specialist training. Students, hobbyists, engineers outside the field, and general readers will find plain, intuitive explanations of the principles behind the main laser families.

The book covers semiconductor lasers, solid-state lasers, and gas lasers, showing how each type operates. It then surveys where lasers are used, including information processing, medicine, communications, industrial manufacturing, and military systems. Concise text and generous illustrations make it useful as a study guide and as a reference for both technical and non-technical readers.