From the reviews: "Ralf Menzel's ambitious Photonics aims to „assemble the necessary knowledge ranging from the basic principles of quantum physics to the methods describing light and its linear and nonlinear interaction with matter, to practical hints on how the different types of lasers and spectroscopic and other measuring techniques can be applied.“ This self-description is accurate. The result is almost a handbook, reviewing in a single author's voice the basic properties of light and its linear and nonlinear interactions with matter, both in the absence and in the presence of absorption. A final section on nonlinear optical spectroscopy follows a section reviewing principles and properties of lasers. (...) a clear compendium of useful information, giving quick snapshots of concepts in linear and nonlinear spectroscopy.„ (Physics Today, March 2002)
PHYSICS TODAY “The result is a clear compendium of useful information, giving quick snapshots of concepts in linear and nonlinear spectroscopy.”
Photonics
Linear and Nonlinear Interactions of Laser Light and Matter
Since the invention of the laser in 1960 there has been an enormous increase in the number of applications of this newly available light and its spectacular properties, and there is no end to this development in sight. In many fields of science, technology and medicine laser photons are the driving force of progress. In the near future we will probably experience a further rapid de velopment in this field as a result of the widespread industrial production of semiconductor diode lasers and new nonlinear optical materials. Light from the new lasers may become even cheaper than that from light bulbs. Thus, laser optic devices will influence all sectors of private and public life. The high power, high brightness, narrow bandwidth, good coherence, spe cial polarization and/or short pulses of laser light beams enable new applica tions. Many of these processes will be based on nonlinear optical interactions of the laser light with suitable optical material. In these interactions the ma terial is modified by the incident light. The light is then in turn modified by the modified matter. Finally, the nonlinear modification of light as a function of other light becomes possible. Light is modified by light. To use laser light in this sense in science, technology and medicine, know ledge from different fields of physics, chemistry and engineering is necessary.
