The RP Photonics Encyclopedia
is a comprehensive, scientifically robust open access reference source in the fields of optics and photonics, brought to you by the expert Dr. Rüdiger Paschotta at RP Photonics and supported by various sponsors. This resource is strongly connected with the RP Photonics Buyer's Guide. Another page explains the encyclopedia project; see the menu for more.
Each encyclopedia article is associated with one or several topical categories:
… and also enjoy our tutorials and case studies!
Use Ticker
Fiber Optics and Waveguides
acceptance angle in fiber optics
Case study: The numerical aperture of a fiber: a strict limit for the angular field distribution?
active fibers
active optical cables → fiber-optic links
adiabatic soliton compression
Case study: adiabatic soliton compression
air-guiding fibers → hollow-core fibers
amplifier fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
angle cleaving → cleaving of fibers
aperiodic fiber gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
apodized fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
bandwidth–distance product
bat ear controllers → fiber polarization controllers
beam delivery systems
beat length → polarization beat length
bend losses
Case study: bend effects in a large mode area fiber
birefringent fibers → polarization-maintaining fibers
borosilicate glasses → silicate glasses
bound modes → guided waves
Bragg fibers → photonic bandgap fibers
Bragg grating sensors → fiber-optic sensors
Brillouin scattering
Spotlight 2010-03-03: Thresholds for nonlinear effects in fiber amplifiers
Spotlight 2007-09-01: Stimulated Brillouin scattering: lower peak power, stronger effect?
Spotlight 2007-06-24: The plague of a narrow emission linewidth
bulk lasers versus fiber lasers → fiber lasers versus bulk lasers
bundled fibers → fiber bundles
C band → optical fiber communications
chalcogenide fibers → mid-infrared fibers
channel waveguides
chemical vapor deposition → fiber fabrication
chirped fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
cladding → fiber cladding
cladding mode strippers
cladding modes
cladding-pumped fibers → double-clad fibers
cleavers → fiber cleavers
cleaving of fibers
connectors for fibers → fiber connectors
core → fiber core
core-less end caps
coupled-mode theory → mode coupling
crystalline fibers → single-crystal fibers
cut-off wavelength
depressed cladding → fibers
differential mode delay
dispersion-decreasing fibers
dispersion-flattened fibers → dispersion-shifted fibers
dispersion-shifted fibers
distributed amplifiers
distributed Bragg reflector lasers
distributed sensors → fiber-optic sensors
doped fiber amplifiers → fiber amplifiers
doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
double-clad fibers
Tutorial chapter on double-clad fibers
Case study: Double-clad fiber amplifier
Case study: pump absorption in a double-clad fiber
Case study: cladding-pumped high-power ytterbium-doped fiber laser
effective modal bandwidth → modal bandwidth
effective mode area
effective nonlinear length → nonlinear length
effective refractive index
Spotlight 2007-10-07: Effective refractive index: correcting a common belief
effective step-index profile → step-index fibers
effectively single-mode fibers → single-mode fibers
elliptical core → polarization-maintaining fibers
endlessly single-mode fibers → photonic crystal fibers
erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
erbium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
fabrication of optical fibers → fiber fabrication
femtosecond fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
few-mode fibers
fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Fiber amplifiers – a technology for many applications
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
Pump absorption in amplifier fibers
Modeling multi-stage amplifiers with RP Fiber Power
Pulse amplification in the steady state
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
fiber arrays
fiber Bragg gratings
Case study: mode coupling in a fiber Bragg grating
Case study: mode coupling in a fiber Bragg grating
fiber bundles
fiber cables
fiber cladding
fiber cleavers
fiber coils
fiber collimators
fiber connectors
Tutorial chapter on accessories and tools for optical fibers
fiber core
fiber couplers
Tutorial chapter on fiber couplers
Case study: fused fiber coupler
fiber coupling stages → fiber launch systems
fiber drawing towers → fiber fabrication
fiber end caps → core-less end caps
fiber fabrication
fiber fuse
fiber joints
Tutorial chapter on fiber joints
fiber lasers
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Spotlight 2011-02-10: Fiber lasers: more difficult to design than bulk lasers
Spotlight 2008-06-06: Fiber lasers which are no fiber lasers
Ytterbium fiber lasers emitting at 975~~nm
fiber lasers versus bulk lasers
fiber launch systems
fiber loop mirrors
fiber loop reflectors → fiber loop mirrors
fiber manufacturing → fiber fabrication
fiber modes → fibers
fiber optics
Tutorial: Passive fiber optics
Launching light into step-index multimode fibers
fiber patch cables
fiber polarization controllers
fiber polishing → polishing of fibers
fiber preforms
fiber rods → fiber bundles
fiber sensors → fiber-optic sensors
fiber simulation software
fiber splices → fiber joints
fiber to the home
fiber-coupled diode lasers
fiber-optic arrays → fiber arrays
fiber-optic attenuators
fiber-optic cables → fiber cables
fiber-optic communications → optical fiber communications
fiber-optic connectors → fiber connectors
fiber-optic links
fiber-optic networks
fiber-optic patch cords → fiber cables
fiber-optic plates
fiber-optic pump combiners
fiber-optic sensors
fiber-optic splitters → fiber couplers
fiber-optic tapers
fibers
Tutorial: Passive fiber optics
Spotlight 2016-09-12: An apparent paradox concerning light beams in fibers
Spotlight 2009-10-08: Nobel Prize for Charles K. Kao for pioneering work on optical fibers
Spotlight 2009-07-09: Gain-guiding index-antiguiding fibers
Spotlight 2006-12-03: Diffraction in optical fibers
figure-eight lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
figure-of-eight laser → mode-locked fiber lasers
fluoride fibers
fluorozirconate fibers → fluoride fibers
free-space modes → modes
fused silica fibers → silica fibers
fusion splicing of fibers
gap loss attenuators → fiber-optic attenuators
germanate fibers
germanosilicate glasses → silicate glasses
Giles parameters
glass fibers → fibers
graded-index fibers
Case study: Telecom fiber with parabolic index profile
group velocity dispersion
guided modes → modes
guided waves
gyroscope fiber coils → fiber coils
heavy metal fluoride fibers → fluoride fibers
high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers
Spotlight 2018-03-05: Dependence on Raman conversion on the optical bandwidth
Spotlight 2011-05-28: Explanation for the mode instability in high-power fiber amplifiers with few-mode fibers
higher-order modes
Spotlight 2006-10-04: Higher-order modes of fibers: a solution for single-mode guidance with large mode area?
higher-order solitons
Case study: Numerical experiments with soliton pulses in fibers
highly nonlinear fibers
holey fibers → photonic crystal fibers
hollow-core fibers
index-depressed cladding → fiber cladding
infrared fibers → mid-infrared fibers
inner cladding → double-clad fibers
insertion loss
intermodal dispersion
L band → optical fiber communications
large mode area fibers
Spotlight 2019-11-19: Why are large mode areas problematic?
Spotlight 2007-04-28: Easier launching into fibers with large mode area?
Spotlight 2007-02-04: Continuing struggle for larger fiber mode areas
Spotlight 2006-08-10: Single-mode fibers with large mode areas
large-core fibers
laser beam delivery systems → beam delivery systems
laser fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
lateral modes → higher-order modes
launching light into fibers → fiber launch systems
leaky modes
long-period fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
LP modes
Marcuse formula → mode radius
master oscillator fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
Spotlight 2008-12-16: Why fiber amplifiers, not fiber lasers?
mechanical fiber splices
microbends of fibers
microstructure fibers → photonic crystal fibers
microwave over fiber → radio and microwave over fiber
mid-infrared fibers
misalignment of fibers → fiber joints
modal bandwidth
modal dispersion → intermodal dispersion
modal refractive index → effective refractive index
mode area → effective mode area
mode coupling
Spotlight 2016-08-11: Mode coupling in optical fibers: selective excitation of a higher-order mode with a fiber Bragg grating
Spotlight 2006-07-24: Beam distortions in laser cavities
Case study: mode coupling in a fiber Bragg grating
mode cut-off → cut-off wavelength
mode field converters
mode field diameter → mode radius
mode radius
Spotlight 2014-07-28: How to define the mode radius of a fiber?
mode solvers → fiber simulation software
mode strippers → cladding mode strippers
mode-locked fiber lasers
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
Spotlight 2009-08-22: Jitter and phase noise of mode-docked fiber lasers
Spotlight 2009-01-05: Extremely long mode-locked fiber laser
Spotlight 2008-03-17: Ultrafast fiber lasers: re-inventing mode Locking
Case study: mode-locked fiber laser
Case study: mode-locked fiber laser
modes
Tutorial chapter on fiber modes
Case study: Mode structure of a step-index multimode fiber
Spotlight 2008-04-15: Abused photonics terms: modes
Propagating optical fields in fibers based on modes or with numerical beam propagation
modified chemical vapor deposition → fiber fabrication
monocrystalline fibers → single-crystal fibers
monomode fibers → single-mode fibers
multi-core fibers
multi-mode fibers → multimode fibers
multimode fibers
Tutorial chapter on multimode fibers
Case study: Number of modes of a highly multimode fiber
Launching light into step-index multimode fibers
Spotlight 2013-11-12: Beam quality limit for multimode fibers
multimode pump combiners → fiber-optic pump combiners
multimode waveguides → waveguides
nanofibers
neodymium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
nonlinear fiber loop mirrors → fiber loop mirrors
nonlinear length
nonlinear polarization rotation
nonlinear pulse distortion
nonlinearities
Spotlight 2010-03-09: Nonlinearities in fiber amplifier modeling
Spotlight 2007-05-26: Optical isotropy: nonlinear interactions are different!
normalized frequency → V number
numerical aperture
Case study: The numerical aperture of a fiber: a strict limit for the angular field distribution?
optical fiber cables → fiber cables
optical fiber communications
Case study: data transmission
optical fiber sensors → fiber-optic sensors
optical fiber technology → fiber optics
optical fibers → fibers
optical frequency domain reflectometry → fiber-optic sensors
optical nanofibers → nanofibers
optical networks → fiber-optic networks
optical power monitors
optical strain sensors
optical temperature sensors
optical time-domain reflectometers
PANDA fibers → polarization-maintaining fibers
parabolic index fibers → graded-index fibers
passive fibers
Tutorial: Passive fiber optics
patch cables → fiber patch cables
phase constant → propagation constant
phosphate glasses
photonic bandgap fibers
photonic crystal fibers
photonic power → power over fiber
photosensitivity → fiber Bragg gratings
pigtailed diode lasers → fiber-coupled diode lasers
planar waveguides
plasma deposition methods → fiber fabrication
plastic optical fibers
polarization beat length
polarization controllers → fiber polarization controllers
polarization mode dispersion
polarization-maintaining fibers
Spotlight 2007-05-19: Why strong birefringence in fibers helps
polarization-preserving fibers → polarization-maintaining fibers
polishing of fibers
polycrystalline fibers → mid-infrared fibers
polyimide fibers → specialty fibers
polymer optical fibers → plastic optical fibers
power monitors → optical power monitors
power over fiber
praseodymium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
precision fiber cleavers → fiber cleavers
preforms → fiber preforms
propagation constant
pulse break-up → nonlinear pulse distortion
pump combiners → fiber-optic pump combiners
quasi-soliton pulses
radiation modes → cladding modes
radiation-resistant fibers
radio and microwave over fiber
Raman amplifiers
Raman effect → Raman scattering
Raman scattering
Case study: Soliton self-frequency shift
Spotlight 2018-03-05: Dependence on Raman conversion on the optical bandwidth
Spotlight 2010-03-03: Thresholds for nonlinear effects in fiber amplifiers
Case study: stimulated Raman scattering in a multimode fiber
rare-earth-doped fibers
Spotlight 2016-05-12: Measurement of absorption spectra of active fibers: not as easy as one might think!
rod-in-tube method → fiber fabrication
S band → optical fiber communications
sampled grating lasers → distributed Bragg reflector lasers
sapphire fibers → single-crystal fibers
self-phase modulation
Effect of self-phase modulation on the pulse bandwidth
Spotlight 2015-07-01: Self-phase modulation causes spectral broadening – does it really?
self-steepening
semiconductor fiber lasers → fiber lasers
sensors → fiber-optic sensors
silica fibers
silicate glasses
single-crystal fibers
single-mode cut-off → single-mode fibers
single-mode fibers
Tutorial chapter on single-mode fibers
single-polarization fibers
slab waveguides → planar waveguides
soda–lime glasses → silicate glasses
solution doping → fiber fabrication
specialty fibers
splicing → fusion splicing of fibers
spontaneous Raman scattering → Raman scattering
spun fibers
step-index fibers
stimulated Brillouin scattering → Brillouin scattering
stimulated Raman scattering → Raman scattering
strain sensors → optical strain sensors
stress rods → polarization-maintaining fibers
stretched-pulse fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
tapered fibers
Case study: light propagation in a tapered fiber
telecom fibers
telecom windows → optical fiber communications
temperature sensors → optical temperature sensors
tilted fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
tolerances for fiber coupling → fiber joints
transmission loss → insertion loss
transverse modes → higher-order modes
triple-clad fibers
tunneling modes → leaky modes
ultrafast fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
V number
vapor deposition methods → fiber fabrication
wave breaking → nonlinear pulse distortion
waveguide dispersion
waveguide lasers
waveguide modes → modes
waveguides
Tutorial chapter on guided light
ytterbium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
zero dispersion wavelength
Fluctuations and Noise
active stabilization of lasers → stabilization of lasers
amplified spontaneous emission
Tutorial chapter on ASE in fiber amplifiers
Case study: ASE in ytterbium-doped fibers
Spotlight 2015-03-11: Strange time dependence of ASE from a fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2013-07-08: Amplified spontaneous emission in fiber amplifiers
Spotlight 2007-08-06: Fiber amplifiers: more ASE for larger core with higher NA?
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
amplitude noise → intensity noise
antibunching → nonclassical light
balanced photodetection
coherent detection → optical heterodyne detection
coherent states
cycle jitter → timing jitter
delayed self-heterodyne interferometer → self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
detectivity
differential photodetection → balanced photodetection
emission linewidth → linewidth
Fock states → nonclassical light
frequency noise
Glauber states → coherent states
Gordon–Haus jitter
heterodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
homodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
injection locking
injection seeding
intensity noise
Spotlight 2018-06-08: Understanding intensity noise
jitter → timing jitter
laser linewidth → linewidth
laser noise
Noise in laser technology
Spotlight 2006-10-09: Correct specifications for laser noise – valuable but hard to obtain
Spotlight 2006-08-20: Lower noise from longer lasers
Spotlight 2006-08-01: Lasers disturbed by vacuum?
linewidth
Derivation of the Schawlow–Townes linewidth
Spotlight 2015-10-17: The linewidth of single-frequency lasers
Spotlight 2008-07-26: Beat signals with zero linewidth
Spotlight 2007-06-24: The plague of a narrow emission linewidth
monochromaticity → linewidth
narrow-linewidth lasers
noise → laser noise
noise eaters
noise factor → noise figure
noise figure
Spotlight 2007-01-27: Noise figure of amplifiers
noise reduction → stabilization of lasers
noise specifications
noise-equivalent power
nonclassical light
optical heterodyne detection
phase noise
Spotlight 2009-08-22: Jitter and phase noise of mode-docked fiber lasers
phase synchronization of lasers → synchronization of lasers
phase-squeezed light → squeezed states of light
photon number states → nonclassical light
photon statistics → nonclassical light
power spectral density
pulse-to-pulse jitter → timing jitter
Q-switching instabilities
quadrature squeezing → squeezed states of light
quantum noise
Spotlight 2007-04-16: Questions and answers on shot noise
r.m.s. values → power spectral density
recirculating fiber loops
relative intensity noise
Spotlight 2018-06-08: Understanding intensity noise
residual jitter → timing jitter
Schawlow–Townes linewidth
self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
self-injection locking → injection locking
sensitivity
shot noise
Spotlight 2007-04-16: Questions and answers on shot noise
signal-to-noise ratio
specific detectivity → detectivity
specifications of noise and fluctuations → noise specifications
spectral linewidth → linewidth
spectral power density → power spectral density
spontaneous emission
Spotlight 2006-07-16: Spontaneous emission and amplifier noise
spontaneous emission factor → Schawlow–Townes linewidth
squeezed states of light
stabilization of lasers
standard quantum limit
synchronization of lasers
timing jitter
Spotlight 2009-08-22: Jitter and phase noise of mode-docked fiber lasers
timing noise → timing jitter
timing phase
timing synchronization → synchronization of lasers
vacuum noise
Spotlight 2006-08-01: Lasers disturbed by vacuum?
Wiener–Khinchin theorem → power spectral density
General Optics
Abbe number
ABCD matrix
aberrations → optical aberrations
absorbance
absorbing coatings → black coatings
absorptance
absorption
absorption coefficient
absorption length
absorptivity → absorptance
achromatic lenses → lenses
achromatic optics
actinometry
adaptive optics
adhesives → optical adhesives
adjoint modes → resonator modes
afocal optical systems
aluminum mirrors → metal-coated mirrors
anamorphic prism pairs
anamorphic prisms → prisms
anomalous dispersion → chromatic dispersion
aperture stops
apochromats → achromatic optics
aspheric lenses → aspheric optics
aspheric optics
astigmatism
attenuation coefficient → absorption coefficient
autocollimators
axial modes → resonator modes
axicons
ball lenses
beam collimation → collimated beams
beam collimators
beam delivery systems
beam diameter → beam radius
beam distortions → beam quality
beam divergence
beam expanders
beam focus → beam waist
beam homogenizers
beam parameter product
beam propagation factor → M2 factor
beam quality
Spotlight 2020-09-30: Beam radius and beam quality of laser pulses
Spotlight 2013-11-12: Beam quality limit for multimode fibers
Spotlight 2008-03-04: What is a ''high'' laser beam quality?
Spotlight 2007-06-11: Beam quality measurements can easily go wrong
Spotlight 2006-07-24: Beam distortions in laser cavities
beam quality factor → M2 factor
beam radius
Spotlight 2020-09-30: Beam radius and beam quality of laser pulses
Spotlight 2007-07-11: What is a beam width, beam size, and a beam waist?
beam reducers → beam expanders
beam splitters
beam viewing cards → laser viewing cards
beam waist
beat length → polarization beat length
Beer–Lambert law
binoculars → telescopes
birefringence
Tutorial chapter on polarization issues in optical fibers
Spotlight 2007-05-19: Why strong birefringence in fibers helps
birefringent polarizers → polarizers
black coatings
blazed gratings → diffraction gratings
Bragg gratings
Brewster plates
Brewster windows
Brewster's angle
brightness
cardinal points
caustic → beam quality
cavities
cavity bandwidth → resonator modes
cavity modes → resonator modes
cavity resonances → resonator modes
chirped mirrors
How to design multilayer optical devices
chromatic aberrations
chromatic dispersion
Tutorial chapter on the chromatic dispersion of optical fibers
circle of confusion → imaging with a lens
cleaner cavities → mode cleaners
cleaning of optics
coherence
Spotlight 2009-11-03: Coherent light from a bulb?
Spotlight 2009-06-23: Coherence – a black-or-white issue?
Spotlight 2008-04-22: Abused photonics terms: coherence
coherence function → coherence time
coherence length
Spotlight 2006-09-22: Coherence length of ultrashort pulses
coherence time
collimated beams
collimation optics → collimated beams
coma → optical aberrations
complex degree of temporal coherence → coherence time
complex reflection coefficient → reflectivity
complex refractive index → refractive index
condensers
confocal parameter → Rayleigh length
constringence → Abbe number
contact bonding → optical contact bonding
corner cube prisms
custom optics
cylindrical lenses
D4σ method → beam radius
deformable mirrors
deformable phase plates → deformable mirrors
delay lines → optical delay lines
demagnification → magnification
depth of field
depth of focus
detector cards → laser viewing cards
diameter of laser beam → beam radius
diameter–divergence product
diattenuation → dichroism
dichroism
differential group delay → group delay
diffraction
Spotlight 2019-11-19: Why are large mode areas problematic?
Spotlight 2006-12-03: Diffraction in optical fibers
Spotlight 2006-11-28: The role of diffraction in optical resonators
diffraction gratings
diffraction-limited beams
diffractive beamsplitters → diffractive optics
diffractive lenses → diffractive optics
diffractive optics
diffuse scattering → scattering
diffusers
diopters → dioptric power
dioptric power
dispersion
dispersion relations → Kramers–Kronig relations
dispersive delay lines → optical delay lines
dispersive mirrors
dispersive spectral analysis → spectrometers
divergence angle → beam divergence
domes → optical domes
double refraction → birefringence
double-chirped mirrors → chirped mirrors
dynamically unstable resonators → unstable resonators
echelette gratings → diffraction gratings
effective Rayleigh length → Rayleigh length
elastic scattering → scattering
emission spectrum → optical spectrum
emissivity
entangled states → photons
entrance and exit pupil
epoxy-free bonding → optical contact bonding
evanescent waves
exit pupil → entrance and exit pupil
extinction coefficient → absorption coefficient
extinction ratio → polarization of light
f–theta lenses → scanning lenses
f-number
f-stop number → f-number
Faraday circulators
Faraday isolators
Spotlight 2010-06-09: Poor man's isolator
Faraday mirrors
Faraday rotators
fast light → superluminal transmission
faster than light → superluminal transmission
field curvature → optical aberrations
field stops
first surface mirrors
flat optics
flat-top beams
Spotlight 2010-04-08: Creating a top-hat laser beam focus
fluence
focal distance
focal length
focal points and focal planes
focus
focusing power → focal length
Fourier optics
free-space modes → modes
Fresnel equations
Fresnel lenses
Fresnel number
Fresnel reflections
Fresnel zone plates → zone plates
front surface mirrors → first surface mirrors
frustrated total internal reflection → total internal reflection
Gaussian beams
Spotlight 2009-10-03: Peak intensity of Gaussian beam
Gaussian mirrors → variable reflectivity mirrors
Gaussian optics
geometrical optics
gold mirrors → metal-coated mirrors
Gouy phase shift
graded reflectivity mirrors → variable reflectivity mirrors
gradient-index filters → rugate filters
gradient-index lenses
grating spectrometers → spectrometers
gratings → diffraction gratings
group delay
group delay dispersion
group index
group refractive index → group index
group velocity
Spotlight 2016-09-12: An apparent paradox concerning light beams in fibers
group velocity dispersion
guided modes → modes
half-wave plates → waveplates
hand lenses → magnifying glasses
hard apertures → optical apertures
heat radiation → infrared light
Hermite–Gaussian modes
higher-order dispersion → chromatic dispersion
higher-order modes
Spotlight 2006-10-04: Higher-order modes of fibers: a solution for single-mode guidance with large mode area?
holographic gratings → diffraction gratings
holography
hyperfocal distance
image distortion → optical aberrations
image planes
image space → object and image space
imaging
imaging with a lens
index matching fluids
index of refraction → refractive index
induced focusing → thermal lensing
inelastic scattering → scattering
infrared absorption → absorption
infrared detector cards → laser viewing cards
infrared light
infrared optics
infrared sensor cards → laser viewing cards
insertion loss
instantaneous frequency
intensity → optical intensity
interference
Spotlight 2009-05-22: Interference effects with imbalanced intensity levels
Spotlight 2007-09-27: Light plus light = darkness: no energy problem, but quantum weirdness
interference filters
intermediate image planes → image planes
irradiance
k vector → wave vector
Kramers–Kronig relations
Lambertian emitters and scatterers
large diameter optics
laser beam delivery systems → beam delivery systems
laser beam quality → beam quality
laser beams
Spotlight 2015-02-05: Attenuating laser beams – not that easy
Spotlight 2010-04-08: Creating a top-hat laser beam focus
Spotlight 2009-11-22: The beam focus – not just a demagnified version of your beam
Spotlight 2007-07-11: What is a beam width, beam size, and a beam waist?
laser diode collimators
laser light
laser line optics
laser line polarizers → thin-film polarizers
laser optics
laser radiation → laser light
laser speckle
Spotlight 2007-06-24: The plague of a narrow emission linewidth
laser viewing cards
lateral modes → higher-order modes
law of Snellius → refraction
left-handed metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
lens arrays → microlens arrays
lens speed → f-number
lenses
light
light absorption → absorption
light beams
light diffusers → diffusers
light intensity → optical intensity
linear absorption → absorption
linear polarization → polarization of light
linear polarizers → polarizers
linear resonators → standing-wave resonators
Littrow gratings → diffraction gratings
loupes
M2 factor
magnification
magnifying glasses
manufacturing of optics → optical fabrication
meniscus lenses → lenses
metal-coated mirrors
metalenses → photonic metasurfaces
metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
metasurfaces → photonic metasurfaces
micro-optics
microcavities → cavities
microlens arrays
microlenses
mirror-like reflection → specular reflection
mirrors
mm mrad → beam parameter product
mode cleaners
mode matching
modes
Tutorial chapter on fiber modes
Case study: Mode structure of a step-index multimode fiber
Spotlight 2008-04-15: Abused photonics terms: modes
Propagating optical fields in fibers based on modes or with numerical beam propagation
monochromatic light
Spotlight 2019-08-26: Can monochromatic light be unpolarized?
monochromators
multimode beams
near field and far field
negative-index materials → photonic metamaterials
neutral density filters
Nipkow discs → pinholes
nodal points
normal dispersion → chromatic dispersion
numerical aperture
Case study: The numerical aperture of a fiber: a strict limit for the angular field distribution?
object and image space
objective lenses → objectives
objectives
opacity
optical aberrations
optical absorption → absorption
optical activity
optical adhesives
optical apertures
optical breadboards
optical cavities → cavities
optical circulators → Faraday circulators
optical contact
optical contact bonding
optical delay lines
optical density
optical diffusers → diffusers
optical diodes → optical isolators
optical domes
optical fabrication
optical flats
optical fluence → fluence
optical frequency
Wavelength or optical frequency, what is the better specification?
optical images → imaging
optical imaging → imaging
optical intensity
optical interference → interference
optical isolators
Spotlight 2010-06-09: Poor man's isolator
optical materials
optical metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
optical metasurfaces → photonic metasurfaces
optical mirrors → mirrors
optical path length
optical phase
optical physics
optical power
optical retardance → retardance
optical return loss → return loss
optical rotation → optical activity
optical slits
optical spaces → object and image space
optical spectrum
Spotlight 2007-10-11: Understanding Fourier spectra
optical spectrum analyzers
optical tables
optical thickness
optical wavelength → wavelength
optical windows
optics
optics cleaning → cleaning of optics
optics for lasers → laser optics
opto-mechanics
parabolic mirrors
parasitic absorption → absorption
paraxial approximation
perfect diffusion → Lambertian emitters and scatterers
phase → optical phase
phase coherence → coherence
phase corrector plates
phase index → refractive index
phase plates → phase corrector plates
phase velocity
photometry
photonic crystals
photonic metamaterials
photonic metasurfaces
photons
Spotlight 2008-05-05: Length of a photon
Spotlight 2007-03-23: Explaining the nature of photons to lay persons
Spotlight 2007-02-16: The science of biophotons
physical optics → wave optics
pinholes
planar photonics → photonic metasurfaces
plane waves
plastic optics
plate beam splitters → beam splitters
polarization beam combining
polarization beat length
polarization coupling → polarization beam combining
polarization extinction ratio → polarization of light
polarization of light
Spotlight 2019-08-26: Can monochromatic light be unpolarized?
Spotlight 2012-03-03: Conflicting definitions of s and p polarization
polarization rotators → Faraday rotators
polarizers
Case study: thin-film plate polarizer
Case study: polarizing cube
polarizing beam splitters → polarizers
polarizing cubes → thin-film polarizers
Polaroid filters → polarizers
polychromatic light
Simulating non-monochromatic multimode beams
polymer optics → plastic optics
power splitters → beam splitters
Poynting vector
principal dispersion
principal points and principal planes
prism pairs
prism retroreflectors → prisms
prism-based beam expanders → anamorphic prism pairs
prisms
propagation losses
protected metal-coated mirrors → first surface mirrors
pupils → entrance and exit pupil
q parameter → Gaussian beams
quarter-wave plates → waveplates
quasi-monochromatic light → monochromatic light
radiance
radiant energy
radiant flux
radiant intensity
radiant power → radiant flux
radiometers → radiometry
radiometry
radius of laser beam → beam radius
ray optics → geometrical optics
ray transfer matrix → ABCD matrix
Rayleigh length
Rayleigh scattering
references surfaces → optical flats
reflectance
reflection coefficient of an interface → Fresnel equations
reflection gratings → diffraction gratings
reflectivity
reflectors
refraction
refractive index
Spotlight 2007-10-07: Effective refractive index: correcting a common belief
refractive index fluids → index matching fluids
refractometers
refractometry → refractometers
regular reflection → specular reflection
residual absorption → absorption
resonator bandwidth → resonator modes
resonator modes
Spotlight 2008-04-15: Abused photonics terms: modes
retardance
retarders → retardance
retroreflecting prisms → corner cube prisms
retroreflectors
return loss
rod lenses
rugate filters
Case study: rugate filters
scanning delay lines → optical delay lines
scanning lenses
scanning spectrometers → spectrometers
scattering
Spotlight 2010-01-11: Beams of laser pointers: visible in air?
second-order dispersion → group delay dispersion
Sellmeier formula
sensor cards → laser viewing cards
sheet polarizers → polarizers
sign conventions in wave optics
silicone optics → plastic optics
silver mirrors → metal-coated mirrors
slow light → velocity of light
Snell's law → refraction
soft apertures → optical apertures
spatial coherence → coherence
spatial filters → mode cleaners
spatial frequencies → Fourier optics
speckle → laser speckle
spectral beam combining
spectral flux → radiant flux
spectral intensity → radiant intensity
spectral lines
spectral radiance → radiance
spectrographs
spectrometers
spectrophotometers
spectroradiometers → spectrometers
spectrum → optical spectrum
specular reflection
speed of light → velocity of light
spherical aberrations
standard spectral lines
standing wave pattern → interference
standing-wave resonators
super-black coatings → black coatings
superluminal transmission
telecentric lenses
telescopes
TEM modes → resonator modes
temporal coherence → coherence
thermal blooming
thermal lensing
Spotlight 2018-07-16: Thoughts on thermal lensing
Spotlight 2007-07-25: Higher heat generation density, stronger thermal effects?
Spotlight 2007-01-15: Origins of heating in laser crystals
Spotlight 2006-07-10: Strength of thermal lensing effects
How to treat thermal lensing in simulations
thin-film polarizers
Case study: thin-film plate polarizer
top-hat beams → flat-top beams
total internal reflection
transmission gratings
transmission loss → insertion loss
transmissivity
transmittance
transverse modes → higher-order modes
trihedral prisms → corner cube prisms
ultraviolet absorption → absorption
ultraviolet light
ultraviolet optics
unstable resonators
UV-enhanced aluminum mirrors → first surface mirrors
V number of a dispersive material → Abbe number
vacuum velocity of light → velocity of light
vacuum wavelength → wavelength
vacuum windows → optical windows
variable reflectivity mirrors
velocity of light
Spotlight 2008-11-25: The Gouy phase shift speeds up light
visible light → light
waist radius → beam waist
wave optics
Spotlight 2009-05-22: Interference effects with imbalanced intensity levels
wave vector
wavefront corrections → adaptive optics
wavefront distortions → beam quality
wavefronts
waveguide modes → modes
wavelength
Wavelength or optical frequency - what is the better specification?
At which wavelength will a laser emit?
wavelength beam combining → spectral beam combining
wavenumber
waveplates
wedge prisms
white light
wire grid polarizers → polarizers
working distance
Zernike polynomials → optical aberrations
zero dispersion wavelength
zone plates
Laser Devices and Laser Physics
absorption cross-sections → transition cross-sections
absorption efficiency → pump absorption
absorption saturation → pump absorption
active fibers
active laser media → laser gain media
active mirror → thin-disk lasers
active mode locking
Case study: actively mode-locked laser
active stabilization of lasers → stabilization of lasers
alexandrite lasers
alignment lasers
alignment sensitivity of optical resonators
alkali vapor lasers → metal vapor lasers
all-solid-state lasers
allowed transitions → forbidden transitions
alpha factor → linewidth enhancement factor
amplification bandwidth → gain bandwidth
amplified spontaneous emission
Tutorial chapter on ASE in fiber amplifiers
Case study: ASE in ytterbium-doped fibers
Spotlight 2015-03-11: Strange time dependence of ASE from a fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2013-07-08: Amplified spontaneous emission in fiber amplifiers
Spotlight 2007-08-06: Fiber amplifiers: more ASE for larger core with higher NA?
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
amplifier transitions → laser transitions
amplitude noise → intensity noise
applications of lasers → laser applications
arc lamp pumping → lamp-pumped lasers
argon fluoride lasers → excimer lasers
argon ion lasers
athermal lasers → radiation-balanced lasers
beam collimators
beam combining
beam delivery systems
beam pointing fluctuations
beam pointing stability → beam pointing fluctuations
blue lasers
brightness converters
broad-area laser diodes
bulk lasers
bulk lasers versus fiber lasers → fiber lasers versus bulk lasers
burst mode lasers
cascade lasing → cooperative lasing
cavity dumping
ceramic laser gain media
characterization of laser beams → laser beam characterization
chemical lasers → gas lasers
chillers → laser cooling units
chillers for lasers → laser cooling units
chromium-doped laser gain media
class-A and class-B regime of a laser → relaxation oscillations
CO2 lasers
coherent beam combining
composite laser crystals
concentration of dopant → doping concentration
continuous-wave operation
cooling units for lasers → laser cooling units
cooperative lasing
copper vapor lasers → metal vapor lasers
core-less end caps
cross lasers → alignment lasers
cross-sections → transition cross-sections
cryogenic lasers
damage threshold → laser-induced damage
depolarization loss
diffusion bonding → composite laser crystals
diode arrays → diode bars
diode bars
Spotlight 2010-04-16: Why large mode area waveguides do not work for laser diodes
diode drivers → laser diode drivers
diode lasers
diode modules → laser diode modules
diode stacks
diode-pumped lasers
Spotlight 2007-06-01: Characterize your pump beam!
direct diode lasers
disk lasers → thin-disk lasers
dispersion management
distributed Bragg reflector lasers
distributed feedback lasers
doped insulator lasers
doping concentration
Spotlight 2006-07-01: Lifting the confusion concerning doping concentrations
dual-line lasers → multi-line lasers
duty cycle → quasi-continuous-wave operation
dye lasers
edge-emitting semiconductor lasers
effective cross-sections → effective transition cross-sections
effective transition cross-sections
efficiency of a laser → wall-plug efficiency
electrical-to-optical efficiency → wall-plug efficiency
emission cross-sections → transition cross-sections
emission linewidth → linewidth
end pumping
Spotlight 2007-04-01: The ideal pump intensity distribution in an end-pumped solid-state laser
entropy balance of lasers → radiation-balanced lasers
erbium-doped laser gain media
erbium-ytterbium-doped laser gain media
excimer lasers
excited-state absorption
external-cavity diode lasers
extinction ratio → polarization of light
eye protection → laser safety glasses
eye-safe lasers
Fabry–Perot laser diodes
fast axis → diode bars
femtosecond fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
femtosecond lasers
Solid state lasers for ultrashort pulses – a diverse family
fiber end caps → core-less end caps
fiber lasers
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Spotlight 2011-02-10: Fiber lasers: more difficult to design than bulk lasers
Spotlight 2008-06-06: Fiber lasers which are no fiber lasers
Ytterbium fiber lasers emitting at 975~~nm
fiber lasers versus bulk lasers
fiber-coupled diode lasers
figure-eight lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
figure-of-eight laser → mode-locked fiber lasers
flash lamp pumping → lamp-pumped lasers
fluorine lasers → excimer lasers
FM mode locking → mode locking
focus
forbidden transitions
Spotlight 2011-03-13: What if solid-state laser transitions would be much stronger?
forsterite crystals → chromium-doped laser gain media
four-level and three-level laser gain media
Case study: Ytterbium-doped 975-nm fiber lasers
Frantz–Nodvick equation → gain saturation
free electron lasers
frequency-stabilized lasers
gain
Tutorial chapter on gain and absorption in rare-earth-doped fibers
gain bandwidth
Spotlight 2007-10-25: The gain bandwidth of laser crystals and glasses
gain clamping
gain compression → gain saturation
gain efficiency
gain media → laser gain media
gain modules → laser heads
gain narrowing
gain saturation
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Spotlight 2018-05-11: Gain saturation in solid-state lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-01: Fiber amplifiers: modeling of ultrashort pulse amplification with saturation of wavelength-dependent gain
Spotlight 2015-08-08: Gain saturation with pulses
gain switching
gas lasers
glass lasers and amplifiers
goggles → laser safety glasses
green lasers
Spotlight 2009-08-14: Progress on green laser diodes
green problem → intracavity frequency doubling
ground state laser transitions → four-level and three-level laser gain media
heat capacity lasers → quasi-continuous-wave operation
helium–cadmium lasers → metal vapor lasers
helium–neon lasers
Henry factor → linewidth enhancement factor
high brightness laser diodes
high-energy lasers
high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers
Spotlight 2018-03-05: Dependence on Raman conversion on the optical bandwidth
Spotlight 2011-05-28: Explanation for the mode instability in high-power fiber amplifiers with few-mode fibers
high-power lasers
Spotlight 2011-12-23: mode-locked thin-disk laser
Spotlight 2007-01-15: Origins of heating in laser crystals
Spotlight 2006-10-22: Lasers attract dust to cavity mirrors
hybrid laser crystals → composite laser crystals
hybrid mode locking → mode locking
in-band pumping
in-plane lasers → edge-emitting semiconductor lasers
induced focusing → thermal lensing
industrial lasers
injection locking
injection seeding
intensity noise
Spotlight 2018-06-08: Understanding intensity noise
intensity-to-phase coupling → linewidth enhancement factor
interlocks
intersubband transitions → quantum cascade lasers
intracavity frequency doubling
intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy
intracavity pumping
ion lasers
krypton fluoride lasers → excimer lasers
krypton ion lasers → argon ion lasers
lamp-pumped lasers
laser applications
Spotlight 2009-04-17: Miniature laser projectors – The next big laser thing?
laser beam characterization
Spotlight 2007-06-01: Characterize your pump beam!
laser beam combining → beam combining
laser beam delivery systems → beam delivery systems
laser beam machining → laser material processing
laser beams
Spotlight 2015-02-05: Attenuating laser beams – not that easy
Spotlight 2010-04-08: Creating a top-hat laser beam focus
Spotlight 2009-11-22: The beam focus – not just a demagnified version of your beam
Spotlight 2007-07-11: What is a beam width, beam size, and a beam waist?
laser cavities → laser resonators
laser cooling units
laser cross-sections → transition cross-sections
laser crystals
laser design
Spotlight 2011-02-10: Fiber lasers: more difficult to design than bulk lasers
Spotlight 2007-04-01: The ideal pump intensity distribution in an end-pumped solid-state laser
Spotlight 2006-07-05: Laser design: side product or the basis of laser development?
laser development
Spotlight 2017-01-27: Second opinion: a useful tool, also in laser technology!
Spotlight 2006-07-05: Laser design: side product or the basis of laser development?
laser diode bars → diode bars
laser diode collimators
laser diode drivers
laser diode modules
laser diode stacks → diode stacks
laser diode testing
laser diodes
Spotlight 2009-08-14: Progress on green laser diodes
laser disks → thin-disk lasers
laser dyes → dye lasers
laser dynamics
laser eye protection → laser safety glasses
laser gain → gain
laser gain media
laser glasses
laser goggles → laser safety glasses
laser hazards → laser safety
laser heads
laser light
laser line mirrors → laser mirrors
laser lines
laser linewidth → linewidth
laser material processing
Spotlight 2022-08-04: Encyclopedia articles on laser material processing
laser media → laser gain media
laser mirrors
Spotlight 2006-11-02: Reflection spectrum of tilted dielectric mirror
Spotlight 2006-10-26: Residual transmission through highly reflecting mirrors
laser modeling
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Spotlight 2017-12-04: Energy levels of solid-state gain media
Spotlight 2013-09-24: Simulation of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: numerical beam propagation reveals what happens, analytical reasoning explains it
Spotlight 2012-02-03: Simulation software: use commercial products or home-made software?
Spotlight 2006-11-16: Laser models – not always useful
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
The transparent laser
What makes a good physics model
laser modules → laser heads
laser noise
Noise in laser technology
Spotlight 2006-10-09: Correct specifications for laser noise – valuable but hard to obtain
Spotlight 2006-08-20: Lower noise from longer lasers
Spotlight 2006-08-01: Lasers disturbed by vacuum?
laser optics
laser oscillators → lasers
laser physics
Spotlight 2020-03-16: Laser physics helps to understand the corona virus crisis
laser pointers
Spotlight 2010-01-11: Beams of laser pointers: visible in air?
Spotlight 2009-04-06: Laser pointers in soccer games: not necessarily harmless
Spotlight 2006-12-16: Dangerous green laser pointers
laser pump chambers → pump chambers
laser radiation → laser light
laser resonators
Spotlight 2015-05-14: Alignment sensitivity of laser resonators – an important design criterion
Spotlight 2009-09-19: Are laser resonators power scalable?
Spotlight 2009-04-05: Stability of resonators – an ambiguous term
Spotlight 2006-10-01: Stability zones of laser resonators
laser rods
laser safety
Spotlight 2007-12-18: The role of laser safety goggles
Spotlight 2007-07-06: Promoting dangerous practices in laser labs
Spotlight 2007-07-01: Nonsensical regulations undermine laser safety
Spotlight 2006-12-16: Dangerous green laser pointers
laser safety glasses
laser specifications
Spotlight 2013-12-13: Avoiding trouble with laser specifications
laser threshold
Spotlight 2020-03-16: Laser physics helps to understand the corona virus crisis
Spotlight 2007-05-10: Fundamental limitation for sigma–tau product, gain efficiency, and laser threshold
Spotlight 2007-01-21: Laser operation far above threshold
laser transitions
Spotlight 2011-03-13: What if solid-state laser transitions would be much stronger?
laser-active glasses → laser glasses
laser-aided manufacturing → laser material processing
laser-induced damage
lasers
Can AI bots like Chat-GPT or Bard answer photonics questions?
Spotlight 2015-11-28: How to store light – and to understand the laser principle
Spotlight 2008-05-25: Einstein and the laser
Spotlight 2007-08-27: Distant healing of lasers
Spotlight 2007-02-22: Lossy laser cavities
Spotlight 2006-08-23: Lasers with nonlinear input–output characteristics
At which wavelength will a laser emit?
lasers for material processing
lasers for quantum photonics
lasers for Raman spectroscopy
lasing without inversion
level manifolds → Stark level manifolds
lifetime broadening → gain bandwidth
line lasers → alignment lasers
linear polarization → polarization of light
linewidth
Derivation of the Schawlow–Townes linewidth
Spotlight 2015-10-17: The linewidth of single-frequency lasers
Spotlight 2008-07-26: Beat signals with zero linewidth
Spotlight 2007-06-24: The plague of a narrow emission linewidth
linewidth enhancement factor
longitudinal pumping → end pumping
lower-state lifetime
master laser
master oscillator fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
Spotlight 2008-12-16: Why fiber amplifiers, not fiber lasers?
master oscillator power amplifier
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
medical lasers
metal vapor lasers
microchip lasers
Spotlight 2018-09-28: Resonator modes in microchip lasers
mid-infrared laser sources
miniature lasers
misalignment → alignment sensitivity of optical resonators
mode competition
Spotlight 2007-07-16: Mode competition – increased or decreased by spatial hole burning?
mode hopping
mode lockers → mode locking devices
mode locking
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
mode locking devices
mode-locked diode lasers
mode-locked fiber lasers
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
Spotlight 2009-08-22: Jitter and phase noise of mode-docked fiber lasers
Spotlight 2009-01-05: Extremely long mode-locked fiber laser
Spotlight 2008-03-17: Ultrafast fiber lasers: re-inventing mode Locking
Case study: mode-locked fiber laser
Case study: mode-locked fiber laser
mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2011-12-23: mode-locked thin-disk laser
Spotlight 2008-03-26: Mode-locked lasers: lower average powers in shorter pulses
modeling → laser modeling
modes of laser operation
molecular lasers
monochromaticity → linewidth
monofrequency lasers → single-frequency lasers
monolithic solid-state lasers
multi-line lasers
multi-wavelength lasers → multi-line lasers
nanosecond lasers
narrow-linewidth lasers
Nd:YAG → YAG lasers
Nd:YLF → YLF lasers
Nd:YVO4 → vanadate lasers
neodymium-doped laser gain media
nitrogen lasers → gas lasers
noise → laser noise
noise reduction → stabilization of lasers
nonlinear mirror mode locking → mode locking
nonplanar ring oscillators
number density of dopant → doping concentration
OEM laser modules
one-atom lasers → single-atom lasers
operation modes of lasers → modes of laser operation
optical damage → laser-induced damage
optical damage threshold → laser-induced damage
optical gain → gain
optical pumping
optically pumped semiconductor lasers → vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers
optics for lasers → laser optics
orange lasers → yellow and orange lasers
oscillators
output couplers
output coupling efficiency
parasitic lasing
passive mode locking
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2008-07-02: Stronger focusing avoids SESAM damage
Spotlight 2008-05-13: Easier self-starting passive mode locking for short lasers
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
Case study: passively mode-locked picosecond bulk laser
percentage of doping → doping concentration
phase synchronization of lasers → synchronization of lasers
phonon-terminated lasers → vibronic lasers
photonic crystal surface-emitting lasers
picosecond diode lasers
picosecond lasers
pigtailed diode lasers → fiber-coupled diode lasers
pointing stability → beam pointing fluctuations
polarization extinction ratio → polarization of light
polarization of light
Spotlight 2019-08-26: Can monochromatic light be unpolarized?
Spotlight 2012-03-03: Conflicting definitions of s and p polarization
power amplifiers → master oscillator power amplifier
power efficiency → wall-plug efficiency
power scaling of lasers
Spotlight 2007-12-03: New paper on power scaling of lasers
Spotlight 2007-09-07: Power scaling in downward direction
pump absorption
Spotlight 2016-05-12: Measurement of absorption spectra of active fibers: not as easy as one might think!
Spotlight 2007-08-22: Saturation of pump absorption – an important issue?
Spotlight 2006-11-04: Nd:YVO4 laser with polarization-independent pump absorption
Pump absorption in amplifier fibers
Case study: pump absorption in a double-clad fiber
pump chambers
pump depletion
pump parameter
pump threshold → threshold pump power
Q-switched lasers
Spotlight 2015-09-24: Q-switched lasers: Nd:YVO4 better suited than Nd:YAG for high pulse repetition rates
Spotlight 2006-09-16: Q-switched lasers: YAG versus vanadate
quantum cascade lasers
quasi-continuous-wave operation
quasi-three-level laser gain media
radiance scaling of lasers → power scaling of lasers
radiation-balanced lasers
Raman fiber lasers → Raman lasers
Raman lasers
Spotlight 2012-03-12: New Raman lasers
rational harmonic mode locking → active mode locking
reabsorption in laser gain media → four-level and three-level laser gain media
red lasers
red–green–blue sources → RGB sources
regenerative mode locking → active mode locking
relative intensity noise
Spotlight 2018-06-08: Understanding intensity noise
relaxation oscillations
RGB sources
ring lasers
rod lasers
ruby lasers
safety → laser safety
safety glasses → laser safety glasses
sampled grating lasers → distributed Bragg reflector lasers
saturation of absorption → pump absorption
saturation of gain → gain saturation
scalability → power scaling of lasers
scaling procedures → power scaling of lasers
Schawlow–Townes linewidth
scientific lasers
seed lasers
self-injection locking → injection locking
self-starting mode locking
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2008-05-13: Easier self-starting passive mode locking for short lasers
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
self-terminating laser transitions
semiconductor diode lasers → diode lasers
semiconductor disk lasers → vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers
semiconductor fiber lasers → fiber lasers
semiconductor lasers
sensitivity to alignment → alignment sensitivity of optical resonators
SESAM mode-locked lasers → mode-locked lasers
side pumping
single transverse mode operation → single-mode operation
single-atom lasers
Spotlight 2006-07-23: Single-atom lasers
single-frequency lasers
Spotlight 2015-10-17: The linewidth of single-frequency lasers
Spotlight 2006-09-03: Single-frequency operation stabilized by spatial hole burning
single-frequency operation
single-mode operation
single-wavelength lasers → single-frequency lasers
slab lasers
slave laser
slope efficiency
Spotlight 2016-12-13: Nonlinear input–output curves for lasers
slow axis → diode bars
solid-state lasers
Solid state lasers for ultrashort pulses – a diverse family
Spotlight 2018-04-06: Laser physics: the essential roles of phonons in solid-state lasers
Spotlight 2017-12-04: Energy levels of solid-state gain media
soliton mode locking
Case study: soliton mode-locked bulk laser
space-qualified lasers
spatial hole burning
Spotlight 2007-07-16: Mode competition – increased or decreased by spatial hole burning?
Spotlight 2006-09-03: Single-frequency operation stabilized by spatial hole burning
specifications for lasers → laser specifications
spectral beam combining
spectral linewidth → linewidth
spiking
spontaneous emission factor → Schawlow–Townes linewidth
spot lasers → alignment lasers
stabilization of lasers
stack lasers → diode stacks
Stark level manifolds
stimulated emission
stimulated emission cross-sections → transition cross-sections
stretched-pulse fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
surface-emitting semiconductor lasers
surgical lasers → medical lasers
swept-wavelength lasers → wavelength-swept lasers
synchronization of lasers
tandem pumping → optical pumping
tapered laser diodes
testing of laser diodes → laser diode testing
thermal depolarization → depolarization loss
thermal lensing
Spotlight 2018-07-16: Thoughts on thermal lensing
Spotlight 2007-07-25: Higher heat generation density, stronger thermal effects?
Spotlight 2007-01-15: Origins of heating in laser crystals
Spotlight 2006-07-10: Strength of thermal lensing effects
How to treat thermal lensing in simulations
thin-disk lasers
Spotlight 2011-12-23: mode-locked thin-disk laser
three-level laser gain media → four-level and three-level laser gain media
threshold pump power
thresholdless lasers
thulium-doped fibers → thulium-doped laser gain media
thulium-doped laser gain media
timing synchronization → synchronization of lasers
titanium–sapphire lasers
transition cross-sections
transition-metal-doped laser gain media
transitions → laser transitions
transparency intensity → four-level and three-level laser gain media
tunable lasers
tungstate lasers
twisted-mode technique
ultrafast diode lasers → mode-locked diode lasers
ultrafast fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
ultrafast laser physics
ultrafast lasers
Solid state lasers for ultrashort pulses – a diverse family
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
ultrashort pulse generation → ultrafast lasers
ultraviolet lasers
Spotlight 2016-10-27: Challenges for nonlinear frequency conversion in extreme wavelength regions
unidirectional ring lasers → ring lasers
upconversion lasers
Case study: thulium-doped blue upconversion laser
uses of lasers → laser applications
vanadate lasers
Spotlight 2015-09-24: Q-switched lasers: Nd:YVO4 better suited than Nd:YAG for high pulse repetition rates
Spotlight 2006-11-04: Nd:YVO4 laser with polarization-independent pump absorption
Spotlight 2006-09-16: Q-switched lasers: YAG versus vanadate
vapor lasers → gas lasers
VCSEL arrays
vertical cavity surface-emitting lasers
vertical external-cavity surface-emitting lasers
vibronic lasers
violet lasers → blue lasers
visible lasers
wall-plug efficiency
waveguide lasers
wavelength beam combining → spectral beam combining
wavelength tuning
Spotlight 2009-12-08: Increased output power of a laser with forced tuning
Spotlight 2008-10-03: Wavelength-tunable lasers: does the tuner degrade the power efficiency?
wavelength-stabilized lasers → frequency-stabilized lasers
wavelength-swept lasers
wavelength-tunable lasers → tunable lasers
weakly allowed transitions → forbidden transitions
X-ray lasers
xenon bromide lasers → excimer lasers
YAG lasers
Spotlight 2015-09-24: Q-switched lasers: Nd:YVO4 better suited than Nd:YAG for high pulse repetition rates
Spotlight 2006-09-16: Q-switched lasers: YAG versus vanadate
Yb:YAG, Yb:KGW, Yb:KYW, Yb:glass, … → ytterbium-doped laser gain media
yellow and orange lasers
YLF lasers
ytterbium-doped laser gain media
Laser Material Processing
3D printing → laser 3D printing
beam delivery systems
buildup welding → laser cladding
cutting heads → laser processing heads
drilling heads → laser processing heads
helical drilling → laser drilling
laser 3D printing
laser ablation
laser additive manufacturing
laser beam delivery systems → beam delivery systems
laser beam machining → laser material processing
laser cladding
laser cleaning
laser coating
laser cutting
laser drilling
laser engraving → laser marking
laser hardening
laser machining
laser marking
laser material processing
Spotlight 2022-08-04: Encyclopedia articles on laser material processing
laser micromachining
laser processing heads
laser surface modification
laser trepanning → laser drilling
laser welding
laser-aided manufacturing → laser material processing
lasers for material processing
micromachining → laser micromachining
percussion drilling → laser drilling
precision laser machining → laser micromachining
processing heads → laser processing heads
remote cutting → laser cutting
remote welding → laser welding
selective laser melting/sintering → laser 3D printing
soldering heads → laser processing heads
stereolithography → laser 3D printing
welding heads → laser processing heads
Light Detection and Characterization
actinometry
autocorrelators
avalanche photodiodes
balanced photodetection
bandwidth
Spotlight 2007-10-11: Understanding Fourier spectra
beam diagnostics → beam profilers
beam profilers
beam viewing cards → laser viewing cards
calorimeters → optical energy meters
cameras
candela → luminous intensity
CIE standard illuminants
coherent detection → optical heterodyne detection
color rendering index
colorimeters
colorimetry
delayed self-heterodyne interferometer → self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
detectivity
detector cards → laser viewing cards
differential photodetection → balanced photodetection
dispersive spectral analysis → spectrometers
dual-segment photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
effective pulse duration → pulse duration
electric field reconstruction → pulse characterization
emission spectrum → optical spectrum
energy meters → optical energy meters
energy of laser pulses → pulse energy
exitance → radiant exitance
focal plane arrays
Fourier transform spectral phase interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
Fourier transform spectroscopy
frequency domain interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
frequency-resolved optical gating
Geiger mode photodiodes → avalanche photodiodes
grating spectrometers → spectrometers
heterodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
homodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
illuminance
image converters → image intensifiers and image converters
image intensifiers and image converters
infrared cameras
infrared detector cards → laser viewing cards
infrared detectors
infrared sensor cards → laser viewing cards
infrared spectroscopy → spectroscopy
infrared thermography → thermal imaging
infrared viewers
intensity → optical intensity
intensity profile measurement → beam profilers
irradiance
joule meters → optical energy meters
knife edge beam profilers → beam profilers
laser diode testing
laser energy meters → optical energy meters
laser power meters → optical power meters
laser viewing cards
lateral effect photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
light intensity → optical intensity
long-wave infrared detectors → infrared detectors
lumen → luminous flux
luminance
Spotlight 2021-03-08: Luminance – a term which is worth some thoughts
luminosity
luminous efficacy and efficiency
luminous flux
luminous intensity
lux → illuminance
luxmeters → photometers
microchannel plate detectors → photomultipliers
microchannel plates
mid-infrared spectrometers
modulation depth
monochromators
night vision devices
noise-equivalent power
optical bandwidth → bandwidth
optical energy meters
optical heterodyne detection
optical intensity
optical power
optical power meters
optical power monitors
optical spectrum
Spotlight 2007-10-11: Understanding Fourier spectra
optical spectrum analyzers
optical wavelength → wavelength
photo cameras
photoacoustic spectroscopy → spectroscopy
photocathodes
photoconductive detectors
photodetector arrays → photodiode arrays
photodetectors
Spotlight 2009-11-13: Photodetection: optical and electrical powers
photodiode arrays
photodiodes
Spotlight 2009-12-13: Johnson-Nyquist noise in photodiode circuits
Spotlight 2006-10-16: Using a current amplifier for optical power measurements and recording with a photodiode
photoelectric detectors → photoemissive detectors
photoelectric effect
photoemission → photoelectric effect
photoemissive detectors
photometers
photometry
photomultipliers
photon counting
photoreceivers → photodetectors
photoresistors → photoconductive detectors
phototransistors
phototubes
polychromators
position-sensitive detectors
power meters → optical power meters
power monitors → optical power monitors
pulse characterization
pulse duration
Spotlight 2017-10-03: Importance of spectral wings on the pulse duration
pulse energy
pulse length → pulse duration
pulse width → pulse duration
pyroelectric detectors
quadrant photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
quantum efficiency
quantum yield → quantum efficiency
radiance
radiant energy
radiant exitance
radiant flux
radiant intensity
radiant power → radiant flux
radiant sensitivity → responsivity
radiometers → radiometry
radiometry
responsivity
rotating slit profilers → beam profilers
scanning beam profilers → beam profilers
scanning spectrometers → spectrometers
self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
sensitivity
sensor cards → laser viewing cards
Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensors
solar-blind photodetectors
specific detectivity → detectivity
spectral brightness
spectral exitance → radiant exitance
spectral flux → radiant flux
spectral intensity → radiant intensity
spectral phase
spectral phase interferometry
spectral quantities
spectral radiance → radiance
spectral response of a photodetector
spectral width → bandwidth
spectrographs
spectrometers
spectrometry → spectroscopy
spectroradiometers → spectrometers
spectroscopy
spectrum → optical spectrum
standard illuminants → CIE standard illuminants
streak cameras
terahertz detectors
testing of laser diodes → laser diode testing
thermal detectors
thermal imaging
thermal power meters → optical power meters
time domain spectroscopy → Fourier transform spectroscopy
vacuum tube photodetectors → phototubes
vacuum wavelength → wavelength
visible-blind detectors → solar-blind photodetectors
wavelength
Wavelength or optical frequency - what is the better specification?
At which wavelength will a laser emit?
wavelength meters → wavemeters
wavemeters
wavenumber
white light
Light Pulses
absolute phase → carrier–envelope offset
active mode locking
Case study: actively mode-locked laser
active Q switching → Q switching
additive-pulse mode locking
adiabatic soliton compression
Case study: adiabatic soliton compression
anomalous dispersion → chromatic dispersion
artificial saturable absorbers → saturable absorbers
attosecond pulses → high harmonic generation
autocorrelators
bandwidth-limited pulses
burst mode lasers
carrier–envelope offset
cavity dumpers → pulse pickers
cavity dumping
chirp
Spotlight 2008-02-03: Quantifying the chirp of ultrashort pulses
chirped mirrors
How to design multilayer optical devices
chirped pulses → chirp
chirped-pulse amplification
Case study: Chirped-pulse ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier system
Spotlight 2017-08-01: Fiber amplifiers: modeling of ultrashort pulse amplification with saturation of wavelength-dependent gain
chromatic dispersion
Tutorial chapter on the chromatic dispersion of optical fibers
comb spectra → frequency combs
damage threshold → laser-induced damage
dechirping → pulse compression
differential group delay → group delay
differential mode delay
dispersion compensation
dispersion compensation modules
dispersion management
dispersion-decreasing fibers
dispersion-flattened fibers → dispersion-shifted fibers
dispersion-shifted fibers
dispersive pulse compression → pulse compression
dispersive pulse stretchers → pulse stretchers
dispersive wave
dissipative solitons → solitons
divided-pulse amplification
Spotlight 2007-03-11: Divided-pulse amplification
double pulses
double-chirped mirrors → chirped mirrors
duty cycle → quasi-continuous-wave operation
effective modal bandwidth → modal bandwidth
effective pulse duration → pulse duration
electric field reconstruction → pulse characterization
energy of laser pulses → pulse energy
f–2f interferometer → frequency combs
fast absorbers → saturable absorbers
femtosecond fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
femtosecond lasers
Solid state lasers for ultrashort pulses – a diverse family
femtosecond pulse amplifiers → ultrafast amplifiers
few-cycle pulses → ultrashort pulses
figure-eight lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
figure-of-eight laser → mode-locked fiber lasers
FM mode locking → mode locking
Fourier limit → transform limit
Fourier transform spectral phase interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
frequency combs
Spotlight 2006-07-01: Characterizing a cavity with a frequency comb
Spotlight 2006-07-01: With wavelength combs to picometer resolution
frequency domain interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
frequency synthesizers → frequency combs
frequency-resolved optical gating
fundamental mode locking
gain switching
Gaussian pulses
giant pulses → Q switching
Gires–Tournois interferometers
Case study: Gires–-Tournois interferometer
Gordon–Haus jitter
grating compressors → pulse compression
GRISMs → dispersion compensation
group delay
group delay dispersion
group velocity
Spotlight 2016-09-12: An apparent paradox concerning light beams in fibers
group velocity dispersion
group velocity mismatch
harmonic mode locking
Haus Master equation
heat capacity lasers → quasi-continuous-wave operation
high harmonic generation
higher-order dispersion → chromatic dispersion
higher-order solitons
Case study: Numerical experiments with soliton pulses in fibers
hybrid mode locking → mode locking
injection locking
injection seeding
instantaneous frequency
Kelly sidebands
Kerr lens mode locking
Kuizenga–Siegman theory
laser pulses → light pulses
laser-induced damage
light pulses
Tutorial: Modeling of pulse amplification
modal bandwidth
mode lockers → mode locking devices
mode locking
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
mode locking devices
mode-locked diode lasers
mode-locked fiber lasers
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
Spotlight 2009-08-22: Jitter and phase noise of mode-docked fiber lasers
Spotlight 2009-01-05: Extremely long mode-locked fiber laser
Spotlight 2008-03-17: Ultrafast fiber lasers: re-inventing mode Locking
Case study: mode-locked fiber laser
Case study: mode-locked fiber laser
mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2011-12-23: mode-locked thin-disk laser
Spotlight 2008-03-26: Mode-locked lasers: lower average powers in shorter pulses
multiple pulses → double pulses
nanosecond lasers
nonlinear mirror mode locking → mode locking
nonlinear polarization rotation
nonlinear pulse compression → pulse compression
nonlinear pulse distortion
normal dispersion → chromatic dispersion
numerical modeling → pulse propagation modeling
optical damage → laser-induced damage
optical damage threshold → laser-induced damage
optical frequency synthesizers → frequency combs
optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification
optical pulse generation → pulse generation
optical pulses → light pulses
optical rulers → frequency combs
parabolic pulses
passive mode locking
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2008-07-02: Stronger focusing avoids SESAM damage
Spotlight 2008-05-13: Easier self-starting passive mode locking for short lasers
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
Case study: passively mode-locked picosecond bulk laser
passive Q switching → Q switching
peak power
phase synchronization of lasers → synchronization of lasers
picosecond diode lasers
picosecond lasers
picosecond pulse amplifiers → ultrafast amplifiers
prism pairs
pulse break-up → nonlinear pulse distortion
pulse bursts → pulse trains
pulse characterization
pulse compression
Case study: nonlinear pulse compression
pulse duration
Spotlight 2017-10-03: Importance of spectral wings on the pulse duration
pulse energy
pulse front tilt
pulse generation
pulse length → pulse duration
pulse pickers
pulse propagation modeling
Tutorial: Modeling of pulse amplification
Numerical representation of ultrashort pulses
Ultrashort pulse simulations with the RP Fiber Power software
pulse repetition rate
pulse shape → Gaussian pulses
pulse shapers
pulse stretchers
pulse trains
pulse width → pulse duration
pulsed laser deposition
pulsed lasers
pulses → light pulses
Q switching
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2009-03-07: Complicated pulse shapes from Q-switched fiber lasers
Spotlight 2014-04-02: Lower Emission Cross-section Leads to Higher Pulse Energy?!?
Case study: actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
Case study: passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
Q-switched lasers
Spotlight 2015-09-24: Q-switched lasers: Nd:YVO4 better suited than Nd:YAG for high pulse repetition rates
Spotlight 2006-09-16: Q-switched lasers: YAG versus vanadate
Q-switched mode locking
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Q-switching instabilities
QML threshold → Q-switched mode locking
quasi-continuous-wave operation
quasi-soliton pulses
Raman self-frequency shift → solitons
rational harmonic mode locking → active mode locking
regenerative amplifiers
Case study: regenerative amplifier
regenerative mode locking → active mode locking
repetition rate → pulse repetition rate
rubber band model → frequency combs
saturable absorber mirrors → semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors
saturable absorbers
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2008-07-02: Stronger focusing avoids SESAM damage
Spotlight 2008-01-06: Saturation intensity or saturation fluence of a saturable absorber or a laser gain medium: what matters?
saturable Bragg reflectors
saturation parameter → saturable absorbers
sech2-shaped pulses
second-order dispersion → group delay dispersion
self-injection locking → injection locking
self-phase modulation
Effect of self-phase modulation on the pulse bandwidth
Spotlight 2015-07-01: Self-phase modulation causes spectral broadening – does it really?
self-phase-stabilized pulses → carrier–envelope offset
self-referenced frequency combs → frequency combs
self-similar pulse propagation → parabolic pulses
self-starting mode locking
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2008-05-13: Easier self-starting passive mode locking for short lasers
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
self-steepening
semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors
SESAM mode-locked lasers → mode-locked lasers
short pulses → light pulses
similaritons → parabolic pulses
slow absorbers → saturable absorbers
soft aperture mode locking → Kerr lens mode locking
soliton compression → pulse compression
soliton mode locking
Case study: soliton mode-locked bulk laser
soliton period
soliton self-frequency shift → solitons
solitons
Case study: Numerical experiments with soliton pulses in fibers
Case study: Soliton self-frequency shift
Case study: Collision of soliton pulses in a fiber
Case study: Soliton pulses in a fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2008-04-02: Solitons: lower dispersion, stronger dispersive effects!
Case study: higher-order solitons
spectral phase
spectral phase interferometry
spectrograms
split-step Fourier technique → pulse propagation modeling
stretched-pulse fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
supermodes → harmonic mode locking
symmetrized split-step Fourier method → pulse propagation modeling
synchronization of lasers
synchronous pumping
tilt of pulse fronts → pulse front tilt
time–bandwidth product
time-of-flight measurements
timing synchronization → synchronization of lasers
transform limit
Spotlight 2008-06-13: Heisenberg's uncertainty principle and the transform limit
ultrafast amplifiers
Pulse amplification in the steady state
ultrafast diode lasers → mode-locked diode lasers
ultrafast fiber lasers → mode-locked fiber lasers
ultrafast laser physics
ultrafast lasers
Solid state lasers for ultrashort pulses – a diverse family
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
ultrafast optics
ultrafast pulse shapers → pulse shapers
ultrashort pulse generation → ultrafast lasers
ultrashort pulses
Tutorial chapter on ultrashort pulse propagation in optical fibers
Tutorial chapter on fiber amplifiers for ultrashort pulses
Tutorial chapter on modeling ultrashort pulse propagation
Tutorial: Modeling of pulse amplification
Spotlight 2017-10-03: Importance of spectral wings on the pulse duration
Spotlight 2009-05-13: The minimum time–bandwidth product
Spotlight 2008-02-03: Quantifying the chirp of ultrashort pulses
Spotlight 2006-09-22: Coherence length of ultrashort pulses
Numerical representation of ultrashort pulses
Ultrashort pulse simulations with the RP Fiber Power software
unchirped pulses → chirp
wave breaking → nonlinear pulse distortion
Lightwave Communications
active optical cables → fiber-optic links
add–drop multiplexers → wavelength division multiplexing
amplifier noise
Tutorial chapter on noise of fiber amplifiers
Noise in laser technology
Spotlight 2006-07-16: Spontaneous emission and amplifier noise
bandwidth–distance product
bit error rate
C band → optical fiber communications
data transmission → optical data transmission
dBm
differential mode delay
dispersion compensation
dispersion compensation modules
dispersion management
dispersion-flattened fibers → dispersion-shifted fibers
dispersion-shifted fibers
distributed amplifiers
doped fiber amplifiers → fiber amplifiers
effective modal bandwidth → modal bandwidth
electronic dispersion compensation
erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
excess noise → amplifier noise
few-mode fibers
fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Fiber amplifiers – a technology for many applications
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
Pump absorption in amplifier fibers
Modeling multi-stage amplifiers with RP Fiber Power
Pulse amplification in the steady state
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
fiber to the home
fiber-optic communications → optical fiber communications
fiber-optic links
fiber-optic networks
free-space communications → free-space optical communications
free-space optical communications
graded-index fibers
Case study: Telecom fiber with parabolic index profile
GRISMs → dispersion compensation
integrated optoelectronic devices → photonic integrated circuits
L band → optical fiber communications
laser communications → free-space optical communications
lightwave communications → optical data transmission
microwave over fiber → radio and microwave over fiber
modal bandwidth
mode division multiplexing
mode-locked diode lasers
modulation depth
modulators → optical modulators
multi-core fibers
optical communications → optical data transmission
optical data transmission
Case study: data transmission
optical fiber communications
Case study: data transmission
optical modulators
optical networks → fiber-optic networks
optical time-domain reflectometers
parabolic index fibers → graded-index fibers
photonic integrated circuits
planar lightwave circuits → photonic integrated circuits
polarization mode dispersion
radio and microwave over fiber
Raman amplifiers
S band → optical fiber communications
SDM fibers → space division multiplexing
semiconductor optical amplifiers
space division multiplexing
telecom fibers
telecom windows → optical fiber communications
telecommunications → optical data transmission
time division multiplexing
transversal filters → electronic dispersion compensation
ultrafast diode lasers → mode-locked diode lasers
wavelength division multiplexing
Methods
ABCD matrix
absorption spectroscopy → laser absorption spectroscopy
active mode locking
Case study: actively mode-locked laser
active Q switching → Q switching
active stabilization of lasers → stabilization of lasers
adaptive optics
add–drop multiplexers → wavelength division multiplexing
adhesives → optical adhesives
anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling → optical refrigeration
asynchronous sampling → optical sampling
atmospheric correction → laser guide stars
attosecond pulse spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
balanced photodetection
beam combining
cavity design → resonator design
chirped-pulse amplification
Case study: Chirped-pulse ytterbium-doped fiber amplifier system
Spotlight 2017-08-01: Fiber amplifiers: modeling of ultrashort pulse amplification with saturation of wavelength-dependent gain
circle of confusion → imaging with a lens
coherent beam combining
coherent detection → optical heterodyne detection
coherent time-resolved spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
comb spectra → frequency combs
coupled-mode theory → mode coupling
dechirping → pulse compression
delayed self-heterodyne interferometer → self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
differential photodetection → balanced photodetection
dispersion compensation
dispersion management
dispersive pulse compression → pulse compression
distance measurements with lasers
divided-pulse amplification
Spotlight 2007-03-11: Divided-pulse amplification
domain engineering → periodic poling
domain inversion → periodic poling
domain-patterned semiconductors → orientation-patterned semiconductors
Doppler cooling
doubly resonant cavities → resonant frequency doubling
dressed states → Sisyphus cooling
electric-field poling → periodic poling
electro-optic field mapping → electro-optic sampling
electro-optic sampling
end pumping
Spotlight 2007-04-01: The ideal pump intensity distribution in an end-pumped solid-state laser
f–2f interferometer → frequency combs
ferroelectric domain engineering → periodic poling
fiber simulation software
fluorescence microscopy
fluorescence spectroscopy
fluorescent cooling → optical refrigeration
FM mode locking → mode locking
Fourier transform spectral phase interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
Fourier transform spectroscopy
frequency combs
Spotlight 2006-07-01: Characterizing a cavity with a frequency comb
Spotlight 2006-07-01: With wavelength combs to picometer resolution
frequency domain interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
frequency synthesizers → frequency combs
frequency-resolved optical gating
giant pulses → Q switching
Giles parameters
grating compressors → pulse compression
GRISMs → dispersion compensation
guide stars → laser guide stars
harmonic mode locking
Haus Master equation
heterodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
holography
homodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
hybrid mode locking → mode locking
imaging
imaging with a lens
in-band pumping
infrared spectroscopy → spectroscopy
infrared thermography → thermal imaging
injection locking
injection seeding
intracavity laser absorption spectroscopy
intracavity pumping
Kerr lens mode locking
key distribution → quantum cryptography
laser absorption spectroscopy
laser beam combining → beam combining
laser brazing → laser soldering
laser cooling
laser design
Spotlight 2011-02-10: Fiber lasers: more difficult to design than bulk lasers
Spotlight 2007-04-01: The ideal pump intensity distribution in an end-pumped solid-state laser
Spotlight 2006-07-05: Laser design: side product or the basis of laser development?
laser development
Spotlight 2017-01-27: Second opinion: a useful tool, also in laser technology!
Spotlight 2006-07-05: Laser design: side product or the basis of laser development?
laser diode testing
laser distance meters → distance measurements with lasers
laser guide stars
laser hazards → laser safety
laser microscopy
laser modeling
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Spotlight 2017-12-04: Energy levels of solid-state gain media
Spotlight 2013-09-24: Simulation of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: numerical beam propagation reveals what happens, analytical reasoning explains it
Spotlight 2012-02-03: Simulation software: use commercial products or home-made software?
Spotlight 2006-11-16: Laser models – not always useful
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
The transparent laser
What makes a good physics model
laser radar → LIDAR
laser refrigeration → optical refrigeration
laser resonator design → resonator design
laser safety
Spotlight 2007-12-18: The role of laser safety goggles
Spotlight 2007-07-06: Promoting dangerous practices in laser labs
Spotlight 2007-07-01: Nonsensical regulations undermine laser safety
Spotlight 2006-12-16: Dangerous green laser pointers
laser soldering
laser specifications
Spotlight 2013-12-13: Avoiding trouble with laser specifications
laser spectroscopy
LIDAR
light detection and ranging → LIDAR
light forces
Spotlight 2006-10-22: Lasers attract dust to cavity mirrors
longitudinal pumping → end pumping
manufacturing of optics → optical fabrication
mode coupling
Spotlight 2016-08-11: Mode coupling in optical fibers: selective excitation of a higher-order mode with a fiber Bragg grating
Spotlight 2006-07-24: Beam distortions in laser cavities
Case study: mode coupling in a fiber Bragg grating
mode locking
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
mode solvers → fiber simulation software
modeling → laser modeling
multiphoton microscopy → fluorescence microscopy
nanoscopy → laser microscopy
no-cloning theorem → quantum cryptography
noise reduction → stabilization of lasers
noncritical phase matching
nonlinear mirror mode locking → mode locking
nonlinear pulse compression → pulse compression
numerical modeling → pulse propagation modeling
OP-GaAs → orientation-patterned semiconductors
optical adhesives
optical coherence tomography
optical fabrication
optical frequency synthesizers → frequency combs
optical heterodyne detection
optical images → imaging
optical imaging → imaging
optical parametric chirped-pulse amplification
optical pulse generation → pulse generation
optical pumping
optical refrigeration
optical rulers → frequency combs
optical sampling
optical time-domain reflectometers
optical traps → light forces
optical tweezers
orientation-patterned semiconductors
passive mode locking
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2008-07-02: Stronger focusing avoids SESAM damage
Spotlight 2008-05-13: Easier self-starting passive mode locking for short lasers
Self starting of passively mode-locked lasers: difficult to model
Case study: passively mode-locked picosecond bulk laser
passive Q switching → Q switching
periodic poling
phase matching
Spotlight 2008-03-10: Automatic phase matching
phase mismatch → phase matching
phase shift method for distance measurements
phase synchronization of lasers → synchronization of lasers
photoacoustic spectroscopy → spectroscopy
photoconductive sampling
polarization beam combining
polarization coupling → polarization beam combining
polarization gradient cooling → Sisyphus cooling
power scaling of lasers
Spotlight 2007-12-03: New paper on power scaling of lasers
Spotlight 2007-09-07: Power scaling in downward direction
prism pairs
pulse compression
Case study: nonlinear pulse compression
pulse generation
pulse propagation modeling
Tutorial: Modeling of pulse amplification
Numerical representation of ultrashort pulses
Ultrashort pulse simulations with the RP Fiber Power software
pump–probe measurements
pump–probe spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
Q switching
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2009-03-07: Complicated pulse shapes from Q-switched fiber lasers
Spotlight 2014-04-02: Lower Emission Cross-section Leads to Higher Pulse Energy?!?
Case study: actively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
Case study: passively Q-switched Nd:YAG laser
Q-switched mode locking
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
QML threshold → Q-switched mode locking
quantum beat spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
quantum cryptography
quantum key distribution
quasi-phase matching
radiance scaling of lasers → power scaling of lasers
Raman spectroscopy
range finding → distance measurements with lasers
rate equation modeling
Spotlight 2008-10-20: Rate equations – an example for stiff sets of differential equations
rational harmonic mode locking → active mode locking
ray transfer matrix → ABCD matrix
reciprocity method
recirculating fiber loops
regenerative mode locking → active mode locking
remote ranging → distance measurements with lasers
resonant frequency doubling
resonant second-harmonic generation → resonant frequency doubling
resonator design
Spotlight 2017-11-02: Gaussian apertures in resonator models: not only for exotic lasers, but also for gain guiding
Spotlight 2011-06-10: Are compact resonators more stable?
Case study: resonator with automatic optimization
rubber band model → frequency combs
safety → laser safety
sampling → electro-optic sampling
scalability → power scaling of lasers
scaling procedures → power scaling of lasers
self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
self-injection locking → injection locking
self-referenced frequency combs → frequency combs
sequential sampling → electro-optic sampling
side pumping
singly resonant cavities → resonant frequency doubling
Sisyphus cooling
sodium guide stars → laser guide stars
soft aperture mode locking → Kerr lens mode locking
solar power generation
soliton compression → pulse compression
soliton mode locking
Case study: soliton mode-locked bulk laser
specifications for lasers → laser specifications
spectral beam combining
spectral phase interferometry
spectrometry → spectroscopy
spectroscopy
split-step Fourier technique → pulse propagation modeling
stabilization of lasers
stimulated emission depletion microscopy → fluorescence microscopy
supermodes → harmonic mode locking
symmetrized split-step Fourier method → pulse propagation modeling
synchronization of lasers
synchronous pumping
tandem pumping → optical pumping
temperature phase matching → noncritical phase matching
terahertz spectroscopy → optical sampling
testing of laser diodes → laser diode testing
thermal imaging
time division multiplexing
time domain spectroscopy → Fourier transform spectroscopy
time-of-flight measurements
time-resolved spectroscopy
timing synchronization → synchronization of lasers
transient absorption spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
triangulation
tweezers → optical tweezers
twisted-mode technique
two-photon microscopy → fluorescence microscopy
type I or type II phase matching → phase matching
ultrafast spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
wavefront corrections → adaptive optics
wavelength beam combining → spectral beam combining
wavelength division multiplexing
wavelength tuning
Spotlight 2009-12-08: Increased output power of a laser with forced tuning
Spotlight 2008-10-03: Wavelength-tunable lasers: does the tuner degrade the power efficiency?
z-scan measurements
Zeeman slowing → Doppler cooling
Non-laser Light Sources
arc lamps
broadband light sources → superluminescent sources
calibration lamps → spectral lamps
cold cathode fluorescent lamps → fluorescent lamps
compact fluorescent lamps → fluorescent lamps
doubly resonant oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
excimer lamps
fiber-feedback parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
fiber-optic parametric amplifiers → optical parametric amplifiers
flash lamps
fluorescent lamps
gas discharge lamps
halogen lamps
high intensity discharge lamps
high pressure discharge lamps → gas discharge lamps
incandescent lamps
Spotlight 2009-11-03: Coherent light from a bulb?
indicator lamps → signal lamps
krypton lamps → gas discharge lamps
Lambertian emitters and scatterers
lamp power supplies
LEDs → light-emitting diodes
light-emitting diodes
Spotlight 2010-09-02: Why LEDs are energy-efficient, and why they could well increase energy consumption
low pressure discharge lamps → gas discharge lamps
mercury vapor lamps
metal halide lamps
metal vapor lamps
neon lamps → gas discharge lamps
optical parametric amplifiers
Spotlight 2006-09-21: Power scaling limits of optical parametric amplifiers
optical parametric generators
optical parametric oscillators
Spotlight 2007-08-23: An OPO without resonator mirrors
Spotlight 2006-09-03: Resolution of conundrum: threshold power for parametric nonlinear interactions
parametric amplifiers → optical parametric amplifiers
parametric generators → optical parametric generators
parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
perfect diffusion → Lambertian emitters and scatterers
signal lamps
singly resonant oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
sodium vapor lamps
spectral lamps
superluminescent diodes
superluminescent sources
Case study: ASE source with automatic spectral optimization
surface-emitting LEDs → light-emitting diodes
sync-pumped parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
tandem OPOs → optical parametric oscillators
wavelength calibration lamps → spectral lamps
white light sources
xenon lamps
Nonlinear Optics
acceptance angle in nonlinear optics → critical phase matching
angle phase matching → critical phase matching
artificial saturable absorbers → saturable absorbers
attosecond pulses → high harmonic generation
B integral
birefringent phase matching
birefringent walk-off → spatial walk-off
Brillouin scattering
Spotlight 2010-03-03: Thresholds for nonlinear effects in fiber amplifiers
Spotlight 2007-09-01: Stimulated Brillouin scattering: lower peak power, stronger effect?
Spotlight 2007-06-24: The plague of a narrow emission linewidth
coherence length
Spotlight 2006-09-22: Coherence length of ultrashort pulses
critical phase matching
cross-phase modulation
Spotlight 2008-02-12: Factor 2 in the equation for cross-phase modulation
crystal ovens
delayed nonlinear response
difference frequency generation → sum and difference frequency generation
dissipative solitons → solitons
domain engineering → periodic poling
domain inversion → periodic poling
domain-patterned semiconductors → orientation-patterned semiconductors
doubly resonant cavities → resonant frequency doubling
doubly resonant oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
effective mode area
effective nonlinear coefficient
effective nonlinear length → nonlinear length
electric-field poling → periodic poling
electro-optic effect
electro-optic modulators
fast absorbers → saturable absorbers
ferroelectric domain engineering → periodic poling
fiber loop mirrors
fiber loop reflectors → fiber loop mirrors
fiber-feedback parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
fiber-optic parametric amplifiers → optical parametric amplifiers
four-wave mixing
fourth-harmonic generation → frequency quadrupling
frequency conversion → nonlinear frequency conversion
frequency doubling
Spotlight 2014-11-14: Correctly designing frequency conversion stages: not easy, but worthwhile!
Spotlight 2013-08-26: Frequency doubling and the reverse process
Spotlight 2008-01-27: Beam quality in second-harmonic generation
Spotlight 2008-01-14: Frequency doubling: long pulses cause trouble
Spotlight 2007-10-17: Why the second-harmonic beam is smaller
Spotlight 2007-09-21: Optimum crystal length for frequency doubling
Spotlight 2007-03-05: More efficient frequency doubling with shorter pulses?
Spotlight 2006-09-29: Frequency dependence of the conversion efficiency for frequency doubling
Spotlight 2006-08-15: The effect of a double pass in a frequency doubler
frequency quadrupling
frequency tripling
green problem → intracavity frequency doubling
group velocity mismatch
high harmonic generation
hyper Raman scattering
idler wave → parametric amplification
intracavity frequency doubling
intracavity pumping
Kerr constant → Kerr effect
Kerr effect
Kerr lens
Kerr nonlinearity → Kerr effect
lithium niobate and tantalate → nonlinear crystal materials
mid-infrared laser sources
mode area → effective mode area
modulational instability
noncritical phase matching
nonlinear absorption
nonlinear amplification → parametric amplification
nonlinear coefficient → effective nonlinear coefficient
nonlinear crystal materials
nonlinear fiber loop mirrors → fiber loop mirrors
nonlinear frequency conversion
Spotlight 2016-10-27: Challenges for nonlinear frequency conversion in extreme wavelength regions
Spotlight 2014-11-14: Correctly designing frequency conversion stages: not easy, but worthwhile!
Spotlight 2007-03-05: More efficient frequency doubling with shorter pulses?
Spotlight 2006-09-29: Frequency dependence of the conversion efficiency for frequency doubling
Spotlight 2006-08-15: The effect of a double pass in a frequency doubler
nonlinear index
nonlinear length
nonlinear optics
nonlinear polarization
nonlinear polarization rotation
nonlinear pulse distortion
nonlinear refractive index → nonlinear index
nonlinear self-focusing → self-focusing
nonlinearities
Spotlight 2010-03-09: Nonlinearities in fiber amplifier modeling
Spotlight 2007-05-26: Optical isotropy: nonlinear interactions are different!
OP-GaAs → orientation-patterned semiconductors
optical frequency multipliers
optical harmonic generators → optical frequency multipliers
optical parametric amplifiers
Spotlight 2006-09-21: Power scaling limits of optical parametric amplifiers
optical parametric generators
optical parametric oscillators
Spotlight 2007-08-23: An OPO without resonator mirrors
Spotlight 2006-09-03: Resolution of conundrum: threshold power for parametric nonlinear interactions
optical rectification
orientation-patterned semiconductors
parabolic pulses
parametric amplification
Spotlight 2007-12-11: The idler wave – essential for parametric amplification and oscillation
parametric amplifiers → optical parametric amplifiers
parametric fluorescence
parametric generators → optical parametric generators
parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
periodic poling
phase matching
Spotlight 2008-03-10: Automatic phase matching
phase mismatch → phase matching
phase-matching bandwidth
Spotlight 2007-11-19: Walk-off and phase-matching bandwidth in nonlinear crystals
phase-sensitive amplification → parametric amplification
Poynting vector walk-off → spatial walk-off
pulse break-up → nonlinear pulse distortion
pump depletion
pump threshold → threshold pump power
quasi-phase matching
quasi-soliton pulses
Raman amplifiers
Raman effect → Raman scattering
Raman fiber lasers → Raman lasers
Raman gain
Raman gain media
Raman lasers
Spotlight 2012-03-12: New Raman lasers
Raman scattering
Case study: Soliton self-frequency shift
Spotlight 2018-03-05: Dependence on Raman conversion on the optical bandwidth
Spotlight 2010-03-03: Thresholds for nonlinear effects in fiber amplifiers
Case study: stimulated Raman scattering in a multimode fiber
Raman self-frequency shift → solitons
red–green–blue sources → RGB sources
resonant frequency doubling
resonant second-harmonic generation → resonant frequency doubling
RGB sources
saturable absorbers
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2008-07-02: Stronger focusing avoids SESAM damage
Spotlight 2008-01-06: Saturation intensity or saturation fluence of a saturable absorber or a laser gain medium: what matters?
saturation parameter → saturable absorbers
second-harmonic generation → frequency doubling
self-focusing
Case study: nonlinear self-focusing
self-phase modulation
Effect of self-phase modulation on the pulse bandwidth
Spotlight 2015-07-01: Self-phase modulation causes spectral broadening – does it really?
self-similar pulse propagation → parabolic pulses
self-steepening
similaritons → parabolic pulses
singly resonant cavities → resonant frequency doubling
singly resonant oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
slow absorbers → saturable absorbers
soliton fission → supercontinuum generation
soliton period
soliton self-frequency shift → solitons
solitons
Case study: Numerical experiments with soliton pulses in fibers
Case study: Soliton self-frequency shift
Case study: Collision of soliton pulses in a fiber
Case study: Soliton pulses in a fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2008-04-02: Solitons: lower dispersion, stronger dispersive effects!
Case study: higher-order solitons
spatial walk-off
Spotlight 2007-11-19: Walk-off and phase-matching bandwidth in nonlinear crystals
Spotlight 2010-03-15: Spatial walk-off and beam quality in nonlinear frequency conversion
spontaneous Raman scattering → Raman scattering
stimulated Brillouin scattering → Brillouin scattering
stimulated Raman scattering → Raman scattering
Stokes shift
sum and difference frequency generation
supercontinuum generation
Case study: Supercontinuum generation in a germanosilicate single-mode telecom fiber
sync-pumped parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
t-waves → terahertz radiation
tandem OPOs → optical parametric oscillators
temperature phase matching → noncritical phase matching
temperature-stabilized ovens → crystal ovens
temporal walk-off
terahertz radiation
third-harmonic generation → frequency tripling
threshold pump power
type I or type II phase matching → phase matching
visible lasers
walk-off angle → spatial walk-off
walk-off compensation → spatial walk-off
wave breaking → nonlinear pulse distortion
z-scan measurements
Optical Amplifiers
active laser media → laser gain media
amplification bandwidth → gain bandwidth
amplification factor
amplified spontaneous emission
Tutorial chapter on ASE in fiber amplifiers
Case study: ASE in ytterbium-doped fibers
Spotlight 2015-03-11: Strange time dependence of ASE from a fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2013-07-08: Amplified spontaneous emission in fiber amplifiers
Spotlight 2007-08-06: Fiber amplifiers: more ASE for larger core with higher NA?
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
amplifier chains
Tutorial chapter on multi-stage fiber amplifiers
Modeling multi-stage amplifiers with RP Fiber Power
amplifier noise
Tutorial chapter on noise of fiber amplifiers
Noise in laser technology
Spotlight 2006-07-16: Spontaneous emission and amplifier noise
amplifier stages → amplifier chains
amplifier transitions → laser transitions
amplifiers → optical amplifiers
dBm
doped fiber amplifiers → fiber amplifiers
dual-stage amplifiers → amplifier chains
erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
excess noise → amplifier noise
femtosecond pulse amplifiers → ultrafast amplifiers
fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Fiber amplifiers – a technology for many applications
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
Pump absorption in amplifier fibers
Modeling multi-stage amplifiers with RP Fiber Power
Pulse amplification in the steady state
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
fiber simulation software
Frantz–Nodvick equation → gain saturation
gain
Tutorial chapter on gain and absorption in rare-earth-doped fibers
gain bandwidth
Spotlight 2007-10-25: The gain bandwidth of laser crystals and glasses
gain clamping
gain compression → gain saturation
gain efficiency
gain equalization
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for multiple signals
gain flattening → gain equalization
gain guiding
Spotlight 2017-11-02: Gaussian apertures in resonator models: not only for exotic lasers, but also for gain guiding
Spotlight 2009-07-09: Gain-guiding index-antiguiding fibers
gain media → laser gain media
gain narrowing
gain saturation
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Spotlight 2018-05-11: Gain saturation in solid-state lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-01: Fiber amplifiers: modeling of ultrashort pulse amplification with saturation of wavelength-dependent gain
Spotlight 2015-08-08: Gain saturation with pulses
Giles parameters
high-power fiber lasers and amplifiers
Spotlight 2018-03-05: Dependence on Raman conversion on the optical bandwidth
Spotlight 2011-05-28: Explanation for the mode instability in high-power fiber amplifiers with few-mode fibers
laser amplifiers → optical amplifiers
laser gain → gain
laser gain media
laser media → laser gain media
laser transitions
Spotlight 2011-03-13: What if solid-state laser transitions would be much stronger?
lifetime broadening → gain bandwidth
master oscillator fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
Spotlight 2008-12-16: Why fiber amplifiers, not fiber lasers?
master oscillator power amplifier
Spotlight 2010-03-22: All-in-one concepts versus modular concepts
mode solvers → fiber simulation software
multi-stage amplifiers → amplifier chains
multipass amplifiers
Case study: multipass amplifier
noise factor → noise figure
noise figure
Spotlight 2007-01-27: Noise figure of amplifiers
nonlinear pulse distortion
optical amplifiers
optical gain → gain
parasitic lasing
picosecond pulse amplifiers → ultrafast amplifiers
power amplification factor → amplification factor
power amplifiers → master oscillator power amplifier
pulse break-up → nonlinear pulse distortion
Raman amplifiers
Raman gain media
rate equation modeling
Spotlight 2008-10-20: Rate equations – an example for stiff sets of differential equations
regenerative amplifiers
Case study: regenerative amplifier
saturation of gain → gain saturation
seed lasers
semiconductor optical amplifiers
slave laser
small-signal gain
stimulated emission
tapered amplifiers
transition-metal-doped laser gain media
transitions → laser transitions
ultrafast amplifiers
Pulse amplification in the steady state
wave breaking → nonlinear pulse distortion
Optical Materials
absorbing coatings → black coatings
active laser media → laser gain media
adhesives → optical adhesives
amplifier fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
black coatings
borosilicate glasses → silicate glasses
ceramic laser gain media
chromium-doped laser gain media
clustering
composite laser crystals
concentration of dopant → doping concentration
crown glasses
dielectric materials
diffusion bonding → composite laser crystals
domain engineering → periodic poling
domain inversion → periodic poling
domain-patterned semiconductors → orientation-patterned semiconductors
doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
doped insulator lasers
doping concentration
Spotlight 2006-07-01: Lifting the confusion concerning doping concentrations
electric-field poling → periodic poling
erbium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
erbium-doped laser gain media
erbium-ytterbium-doped laser gain media
ferroelectric domain engineering → periodic poling
flint glasses
fluoride fibers
fluoride glasses
fluorozirconate fibers → fluoride fibers
forsterite crystals → chromium-doped laser gain media
four-level and three-level laser gain media
Case study: Ytterbium-doped 975-nm fiber lasers
fused quartz → fused silica
fused silica
fused silica fibers → silica fibers
gain media → laser gain media
germanosilicate glasses → silicate glasses
gray tracking → photodarkening
green-induced infrared absorption → photodarkening
ground state laser transitions → four-level and three-level laser gain media
heavy metal fluoride fibers → fluoride fibers
hybrid laser crystals → composite laser crystals
index matching fluids
infrared optics
lanthanide lasers → rare-earth-doped laser gain media
laser crystals
laser fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
laser gain media
laser glasses
laser media → laser gain media
laser rods
laser-active glasses → laser glasses
left-handed metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
light-induced absorption → photodarkening
lithium niobate and tantalate → nonlinear crystal materials
manufacturing of optics → optical fabrication
metalenses → photonic metasurfaces
metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
metasurfaces → photonic metasurfaces
mirror substrates
Nd:YAG → YAG lasers
Nd:YLF → YLF lasers
Nd:YVO4 → vanadate lasers
negative-index materials → photonic metamaterials
neodymium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
neodymium-doped laser gain media
nonlinear crystal materials
number density of dopant → doping concentration
OP-GaAs → orientation-patterned semiconductors
optical adhesives
optical crystals
optical fabrication
optical glasses
optical metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
optical metasurfaces → photonic metasurfaces
orientation-patterned semiconductors
percentage of doping → doping concentration
periodic poling
phonon-terminated lasers → vibronic lasers
phosphate glasses
phosphors
photo-induced attenuation → photodarkening
photochromic damage → photodarkening
photochromic materials
photodarkening
photoinduced losses → photodarkening
photonic crystals
photonic metamaterials
photonic metasurfaces
planar photonics → photonic metasurfaces
praseodymium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
quasi-three-level laser gain media
Raman gain media
rare-earth-doped fibers
Spotlight 2016-05-12: Measurement of absorption spectra of active fibers: not as easy as one might think!
rare-earth-doped laser gain media
reabsorption in laser gain media → four-level and three-level laser gain media
refractive index fluids → index matching fluids
self-darkening materials → photochromic materials
semiconductors
silica fibers
silica glass → fused silica
silicate glasses
soda–lime glasses → silicate glasses
super-black coatings → black coatings
three-level laser gain media → four-level and three-level laser gain media
thulium-doped fibers → thulium-doped laser gain media
thulium-doped laser gain media
transition-metal-doped laser gain media
transparency intensity → four-level and three-level laser gain media
tungstate lasers
vanadate lasers
Spotlight 2015-09-24: Q-switched lasers: Nd:YVO4 better suited than Nd:YAG for high pulse repetition rates
Spotlight 2006-11-04: Nd:YVO4 laser with polarization-independent pump absorption
Spotlight 2006-09-16: Q-switched lasers: YAG versus vanadate
vibronic lasers
vitreous silica → fused silica
YAG lasers
Spotlight 2015-09-24: Q-switched lasers: Nd:YVO4 better suited than Nd:YAG for high pulse repetition rates
Spotlight 2006-09-16: Q-switched lasers: YAG versus vanadate
Yb:YAG, Yb:KGW, Yb:KYW, Yb:glass, … → ytterbium-doped laser gain media
YLF lasers
ytterbium-doped fibers → rare-earth-doped fibers
ytterbium-doped laser gain media
Optical Metrology
absolute phase → carrier–envelope offset
absorption spectroscopy → laser absorption spectroscopy
attosecond pulse spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
autocollimators
autocorrelators
avalanche photodiodes
beam diagnostics → beam profilers
beam profilers
beam propagation factor → M2 factor
beam quality factor → M2 factor
beat note
Spotlight 2009-07-29: No beat note for orthogonal modes
carrier–envelope offset
characterization of laser beams → laser beam characterization
coherent detection → optical heterodyne detection
coherent time-resolved spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
confocal microscopy → confocal scanning microscopes
confocal scanning microscopes
cycle jitter → timing jitter
damage threshold → laser-induced damage
decibel
delayed self-heterodyne interferometer → self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
dispersive spectral analysis → spectrometers
distance measurements with lasers
dual-segment photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
effective pulse duration → pulse duration
electric field reconstruction → pulse characterization
energy of laser pulses → pulse energy
Fizeau interferometers
fluorescence spectroscopy
fly-wheel oscillators → frequency metrology
Fourier transform spectral phase interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
Fourier transform spectroscopy
frequency chains → frequency metrology
frequency domain interferometry → spectral phase interferometry
frequency metrology
frequency standards → optical frequency standards
frequency-resolved optical gating
Geiger mode photodiodes → avalanche photodiodes
grating spectrometers → spectrometers
heterodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
homodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
illuminance
infrared spectroscopy → spectroscopy
infrared thermography → thermal imaging
integrating spheres
intensity profile measurement → beam profilers
interferometers
Spotlight 2008-07-13: The simplified history of the Michelson–Morley experiment
irradiance
jitter → timing jitter
knife edge beam profilers → beam profilers
laser absorption spectroscopy
laser beam characterization
Spotlight 2007-06-01: Characterize your pump beam!
laser diode testing
laser distance meters → distance measurements with lasers
laser radar → LIDAR
laser rangefinders
laser spectroscopy
laser-induced damage
lasers for Raman spectroscopy
lateral effect photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
LIDAR
light detection and ranging → LIDAR
lux → illuminance
luxmeters → photometers
M2 factor
Mach–Zehnder interferometers → interferometers
metrology → optical metrology
Michelson interferometers
microchannel plate detectors → photomultipliers
microscope objectives
microscopes
mid-infrared spectrometers
monochromators
optical clocks
optical clockworks
optical coherence tomography
optical damage → laser-induced damage
optical damage threshold → laser-induced damage
optical flats
optical frequency
Wavelength or optical frequency, what is the better specification?
optical frequency metrology → frequency metrology
optical frequency standards
optical heterodyne detection
optical lattice clocks → optical frequency standards
optical metrology
optical power monitors
optical profilometers
optical reflectometers → reflectometers
optical spectrum analyzers
optical surface characterization equipment → optical profilometers
optical surface profilers → optical profilometers
optical time-domain reflectometers
phase shift method for distance measurements
photoacoustic spectroscopy → spectroscopy
photodetector arrays → photodiode arrays
photodiode arrays
photodiodes
Spotlight 2009-12-13: Johnson-Nyquist noise in photodiode circuits
Spotlight 2006-10-16: Using a current amplifier for optical power measurements and recording with a photodiode
photometers
photometry → optical metrology
photomultipliers
phototransistors
phototubes
polarimeters
polarimetry → polarimeters
polychromators
position-sensitive detectors
power density
power monitors → optical power monitors
power spectral density
profilometers → optical profilometers
pulse characterization
pulse duration
Spotlight 2017-10-03: Importance of spectral wings on the pulse duration
pulse energy
pulse length → pulse duration
pulse repetition rate
pulse width → pulse duration
pulse-to-pulse jitter → timing jitter
pump–probe measurements
pump–probe spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
quadrant photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
quantum beat spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
r.m.s. values → power spectral density
radiance
radiant energy
radiant flux
radiant intensity
radiant power → radiant flux
range finding → distance measurements with lasers
reference cavities
references surfaces → optical flats
reflectometers
refractometers
refractometry → refractometers
remote ranging → distance measurements with lasers
repetition rate → pulse repetition rate
residual jitter → timing jitter
rotating slit profilers → beam profilers
scanning beam profilers → beam profilers
scanning spectrometers → spectrometers
self-heterodyne linewidth measurement
self-phase-stabilized pulses → carrier–envelope offset
signal-to-noise ratio
spectral brightness
spectral flux → radiant flux
spectral intensity → radiant intensity
spectral phase
spectral phase interferometry
spectral power density → power spectral density
spectral radiance → radiance
spectrographs
spectrometers
spectrometry → spectroscopy
spectrophotometers
spectroradiometers → spectrometers
spectroscopy
surface profilers → optical profilometers
testing of laser diodes → laser diode testing
thermal imaging
time domain spectroscopy → Fourier transform spectroscopy
time-of-flight measurements
time-resolved spectroscopy
timing jitter
Spotlight 2009-08-22: Jitter and phase noise of mode-docked fiber lasers
timing noise → timing jitter
timing phase
transient absorption spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
triangulation
Twyman–Green interferometers
Ulbricht spheres → integrating spheres
ultrafast spectroscopy → time-resolved spectroscopy
vacuum tube photodetectors → phototubes
wavelength meters → wavemeters
wavemeters
white light interferometers
Wiener–Khinchin theorem → power spectral density
z-scan measurements
Optical Resonators
ABCD matrix
alignment sensitivity of optical resonators
axial mode spacing → free spectral range
cavities
cavity design → resonator design
crystalline mirrors
distributed feedback lasers
doubly resonant cavities → resonant frequency doubling
dynamically unstable resonators → unstable resonators
enhancement cavities
etalons
Spotlight 2009-12-31: Tilt tuning of etalons
Case study: air-spaced etalon
Case study: etalon with thermal effects
Fabry–Perot interferometers
Fabry–Perot laser diodes
finesse
free spectral range
free-space modes → modes
Fresnel number
Gires–Tournois interferometers
Case study: Gires–-Tournois interferometer
green problem → intracavity frequency doubling
guided modes → modes
Hermite–Gaussian modes
high-Q resonators → Q factor
higher-order modes
Spotlight 2006-10-04: Higher-order modes of fibers: a solution for single-mode guidance with large mode area?
intracavity frequency doubling
intracavity pumping
laser cavities → laser resonators
laser resonator design → resonator design
laser resonators
Spotlight 2015-05-14: Alignment sensitivity of laser resonators – an important design criterion
Spotlight 2009-09-19: Are laser resonators power scalable?
Spotlight 2009-04-05: Stability of resonators – an ambiguous term
Spotlight 2006-10-01: Stability zones of laser resonators
lateral modes → higher-order modes
left-handed metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
linear versus ring resonators → optical resonators
metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
microcavities → cavities
misalignment → alignment sensitivity of optical resonators
mode cleaner cavities
mode competition
Spotlight 2007-07-16: Mode competition – increased or decreased by spatial hole burning?
mode hopping
mode matching
modes
Tutorial chapter on fiber modes
Case study: Mode structure of a step-index multimode fiber
Spotlight 2008-04-15: Abused photonics terms: modes
Propagating optical fields in fibers based on modes or with numerical beam propagation
monocrystalline mirrors → crystalline mirrors
negative-index materials → photonic metamaterials
nonplanar ring oscillators
optical cavities → cavities
optical frequency
Wavelength or optical frequency, what is the better specification?
optical metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
optical resonators
Spotlight 2016-07-05: The round-trip phase shift in an optical resonator
Spotlight 2009-04-05: Stability of resonators – an ambiguous term
Spotlight 2006-11-28: The role of diffraction in optical resonators
Spotlight 2006-11-21: The resonator mystery
photonic metamaterials
Q factor
quality factor → Q factor
ray transfer matrix → ABCD matrix
reference cavities
resonant cavity → optical resonators
resonant frequency doubling
resonant second-harmonic generation → resonant frequency doubling
resonator design
Spotlight 2017-11-02: Gaussian apertures in resonator models: not only for exotic lasers, but also for gain guiding
Spotlight 2011-06-10: Are compact resonators more stable?
Case study: resonator with automatic optimization
resonator mode spacing → free spectral range
resonators → optical resonators
ring lasers
ring resonators
semiconductor mirrors → crystalline mirrors
sensitivity to alignment → alignment sensitivity of optical resonators
singly resonant cavities → resonant frequency doubling
stability zones of optical resonators
transverse modes → higher-order modes
unidirectional ring lasers → ring lasers
unstable resonators
waveguide modes → modes
Optoelectronics
avalanche photodiodes
broad area laser diodes
camera sensors → image sensors
CCD sensors → image sensors
charge injection devices → image sensors
CMOS sensors → image sensors
diode arrays → diode bars
diode bars
Spotlight 2010-04-16: Why large mode area waveguides do not work for laser diodes
diode lasers
diode stacks
distributed Bragg reflector lasers
distributed feedback lasers
dual-segment photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
electro-optics
electroabsorption modulators
external-cavity diode lasers
fast axis → diode bars
Franz–Keldysh effect → electroabsorption modulators
Geiger mode photodiodes → avalanche photodiodes
image converters → image intensifiers and image converters
image intensifiers and image converters
image sensors
integrated optoelectronic devices → photonic integrated circuits
intersubband transitions → quantum cascade lasers
laser diode bars → diode bars
laser diode stacks → diode stacks
laser diodes
Spotlight 2009-08-14: Progress on green laser diodes
lateral effect photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
LEDs → light-emitting diodes
light-emitting diodes
Spotlight 2010-09-02: Why LEDs are energy-efficient, and why they could well increase energy consumption
microchannel plate detectors → photomultipliers
microchannel plates
mode-locked diode lasers
optoelectronics
optronics → optoelectronics
photocathodes
photoconductive detectors
photoconductive sampling
photoconductive switches
photodetector arrays → photodiode arrays
photodetectors
Spotlight 2009-11-13: Photodetection: optical and electrical powers
photodiode arrays
photodiodes
Spotlight 2009-12-13: Johnson-Nyquist noise in photodiode circuits
Spotlight 2006-10-16: Using a current amplifier for optical power measurements and recording with a photodiode
photomultipliers
photon counting
photonic integrated circuits
photoreceivers → photodetectors
photoresistors → photoconductive detectors
phototransistors
phototubes
planar lightwave circuits → photonic integrated circuits
position-sensitive detectors
quadrant photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
quantum cascade lasers
quantum electronics
sampled grating lasers → distributed Bragg reflector lasers
semiconductor diode lasers → diode lasers
semiconductor lasers
semiconductors
silicon photonics
single-emitter laser diodes → broad area laser diodes
slow axis → diode bars
stack lasers → diode stacks
superluminescent diodes
surface-emitting LEDs → light-emitting diodes
surface-emitting semiconductor lasers
ultrafast diode lasers → mode-locked diode lasers
vacuum tube photodetectors → phototubes
Photonic Devices
achromatic lenses → lenses
acousto-optic deflectors
acousto-optic frequency shifters
acousto-optic modulators
acousto-optic Q switches
acousto-optic tunable filters
aluminum mirrors → metal-coated mirrors
anti-reflection coatings
Case study: dual-wavelength anti-reflection coating
aperiodic fiber gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
apodized fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
arrayed waveguide gratings
artificial saturable absorbers → saturable absorbers
attenuators → optical attenuators
autocorrelators
avalanche photodiodes
Babinet–Soleil compensators
balanced photodetection
bat ear controllers → fiber polarization controllers
beam blocks → beam dumps
beam diagnostics → beam profilers
beam dumps
beam profilers
beam shapers
Spotlight 2010-04-08: Creating a top-hat laser beam focus
beam shutters
beam traps → beam dumps
beam viewing cards → laser viewing cards
Berek compensators
Berek tunable waveplates → Babinet–Soleil compensators
birefringent filters → birefringent tuners
birefringent tuners
Bragg grating sensors → fiber-optic sensors
Bragg mirrors
Case study: Bragg mirror
Brewster plates
brightness converters
broadband light sources → superluminescent sources
bulk Bragg gratings → volume Bragg gratings
calorimeters → optical energy meters
camera sensors → image sensors
cameras
cavity dumpers → pulse pickers
CCD sensors → image sensors
charge injection devices → image sensors
chirped fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
chirped mirrors
How to design multilayer optical devices
choppers → optical choppers
circular multipass cells → multipass gas cells
cleaner cavities → mode cleaners
CMOS sensors → image sensors
coatings → dielectric coatings
cold mirrors
color filters → optical filters
common-path interferometers
crystalline mirrors
delay lines → optical delay lines
detector cards → laser viewing cards
dichroic mirrors
Case study: dichroic mirror
dielectric coatings
dielectric mirrors
Spotlight 2006-11-02: Reflection spectrum of tilted dielectric mirror
Spotlight 2006-10-26: Residual transmission through highly reflecting mirrors
How to design multilayer optical devices
differential photodetection → balanced photodetection
diode drivers → laser diode drivers
diode modules → laser diode modules
dispersion-compensation modules
dispersive delay lines → optical delay lines
dispersive mirrors
distributed mirrors → Bragg mirrors
distributed sensors → fiber-optic sensors
doped fiber amplifiers → fiber amplifiers
double-chirped mirrors → chirped mirrors
doubly resonant oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
dual-band mirrors → dichroic mirrors
dual-segment photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
electro-optic modulators
electroabsorption modulators
electron beam evaporation → dielectric mirrors
energy meters → optical energy meters
enhancement cavities
erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
etalons
Spotlight 2009-12-31: Tilt tuning of etalons
Case study: air-spaced etalon
Case study: etalon with thermal effects
eye protection → laser safety glasses
Faraday circulators
Faraday isolators
Spotlight 2010-06-09: Poor man's isolator
Faraday mirrors
Faraday rotators
fast absorbers → saturable absorbers
fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Fiber amplifiers
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for a long-wavelength signal
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Fiber amplifiers – a technology for many applications
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
Pump absorption in amplifier fibers
Modeling multi-stage amplifiers with RP Fiber Power
Pulse amplification in the steady state
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
fiber Bragg gratings
Case study: mode coupling in a fiber Bragg grating
Case study: mode coupling in a fiber Bragg grating
fiber couplers
Tutorial chapter on fiber couplers
Case study: fused fiber coupler
fiber loop mirrors
fiber loop reflectors → fiber loop mirrors
fiber polarization controllers
fiber sensors → fiber-optic sensors
fiber-feedback parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
fiber-optic parametric amplifiers → optical parametric amplifiers
fiber-optic sensors
fiber-optic splitters → fiber couplers
filters → optical filters
Fizeau interferometers
Franz–Keldysh effect → electroabsorption modulators
gas absorption cells → gas cells
gas cells
Geiger mode photodiodes → avalanche photodiodes
Gires–Tournois interferometers
Case study: Gires–-Tournois interferometer
goggles → laser safety glasses
gold mirrors → metal-coated mirrors
gradient-index filters → rugate filters
half-wave plates → waveplates
half-wave voltage → Pockels cells
harmonic separators → dichroic mirrors
heat control filters → cold mirrors
Herriott multipass cells → multipass gas cells
holographic bulk gratings → volume Bragg gratings
hot mirrors
image converters → image intensifiers and image converters
image intensifiers and image converters
image sensors
infrared cameras
infrared detector cards → laser viewing cards
infrared detectors
infrared emitters
infrared sensor cards → laser viewing cards
infrared viewers
integrated optics
integrated optoelectronic devices → photonic integrated circuits
integrating spheres
intensity modulators
intensity profile measurement → beam profilers
interference coatings → dielectric coatings
interferometers
Spotlight 2008-07-13: The simplified history of the Michelson–Morley experiment
ion beam sputtering → dielectric mirrors
joule meters → optical energy meters
knife edge beam profilers → beam profilers
laser beam shapers → beam shapers
laser beam shutters → beam shutters
laser diode drivers
laser diode modules
laser diode testing
laser energy meters → optical energy meters
laser eye protection → laser safety glasses
laser goggles → laser safety glasses
laser line mirrors → laser mirrors
laser mirrors
Spotlight 2006-11-02: Reflection spectrum of tilted dielectric mirror
Spotlight 2006-10-26: Residual transmission through highly reflecting mirrors
laser power meters → optical power meters
laser pump chambers → pump chambers
laser safety glasses
laser scanners
laser viewing cards
lateral effect photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
LEDs → light-emitting diodes
lenses
light choppers → optical choppers
light-emitting diodes
Spotlight 2010-09-02: Why LEDs are energy-efficient, and why they could well increase energy consumption
liquid crystal displays
liquid crystal modulators
long-pass gas cells → gas cells
long-period fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
long-wave infrared detectors → infrared detectors
luxmeters → photometers
Lyot filters
Mach–Zehnder interferometers → interferometers
matrix method for multilayer structures → dielectric mirrors
meniscus lenses → lenses
metal–semiconductor–metal photodetectors
metal-coated mirrors
Michelson interferometers
microchannel plate detectors → photomultipliers
mid-infrared laser sources
mode cleaner cavities
mode cleaners
mode field converters
modulators → optical modulators
monocrystalline mirrors → crystalline mirrors
multilayer coatings → dielectric coatings
multilayer mirrors → dielectric mirrors
multipass gas cells
neutral density filters
noise eaters
nonlinear fiber loop mirrors → fiber loop mirrors
objectives for photography → photographic objectives
optical attenuators
optical choppers
optical circulators → Faraday circulators
optical clocks
optical clockworks
optical coatings → dielectric coatings
optical delay lines
optical diodes → optical isolators
optical energy meters
optical fiber sensors → fiber-optic sensors
optical filters
optical frequency domain reflectometry → fiber-optic sensors
optical frequency multipliers
optical harmonic generators → optical frequency multipliers
optical interference coatings → dielectric coatings
optical isolators
Spotlight 2010-06-09: Poor man's isolator
optical modulators
optical parametric amplifiers
Spotlight 2006-09-21: Power scaling limits of optical parametric amplifiers
optical parametric generators
optical parametric oscillators
Spotlight 2007-08-23: An OPO without resonator mirrors
Spotlight 2006-09-03: Resolution of conundrum: threshold power for parametric nonlinear interactions
optical power meters
optical power monitors
optical reflectometers → reflectometers
optical sensors
optical strain sensors
optical temperature sensors
opto-isolators
optocouplers → opto-isolators
optoelectronics
optronics → optoelectronics
output couplers
p–i–n photodiodes
parametric amplifiers → optical parametric amplifiers
parametric generators → optical parametric generators
parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
Pfund cells → multipass gas cells
phase modulators
photo cameras
photocathodes
photoconductive switches
photocouplers → opto-isolators
photodetector arrays → photodiode arrays
photodetectors
Spotlight 2009-11-13: Photodetection: optical and electrical powers
photodiode arrays
photodiodes
Spotlight 2009-12-13: Johnson-Nyquist noise in photodiode circuits
Spotlight 2006-10-16: Using a current amplifier for optical power measurements and recording with a photodiode
photoelectric detectors → photoemissive detectors
photoemissive detectors
photographic objectives
photometers
photomultipliers
photon counting
photon science → photonics
photonic crystals
photonic integrated circuits
photonics
Can AI bots like Chat-GPT or Bard answer photonics questions?
photoreceivers → photodetectors
photosensitivity → fiber Bragg gratings
phototransistors
phototubes
photovoltaic cells
photovoltaic modules → solar modules
planar lightwave circuits → photonic integrated circuits
planar waveguides
Pockels cell drivers
Pockels cells
polarimeters
polarimetry → polarimeters
polarization controllers → fiber polarization controllers
polarization rotators → Faraday rotators
position-sensitive detectors
power meters → optical power meters
power monitors → optical power monitors
pulse pickers
pulse shapers
pump chambers
pyroelectric detectors
Q switches
quadrant photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
quantum dots
quantum photonics
quantum wells
quarter-wave mirrors
quarter-wave plates → waveplates
reflectometers
rotating disc choppers → optical choppers
rotating slit profilers → beam profilers
rugate filters
Case study: rugate filters
safety glasses → laser safety glasses
saturable absorber mirrors → semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors
saturable absorbers
Spotlight 2018-01-08: Self-starting of passively mode-locked lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-31: Passive mode locking with slow saturable absorbers: surprisingly stable!
Spotlight 2017-04-12: Does a saturable absorber in a laser lead to passive Q switching or mode locking?
Spotlight 2008-07-02: Stronger focusing avoids SESAM damage
Spotlight 2008-01-06: Saturation intensity or saturation fluence of a saturable absorber or a laser gain medium: what matters?
saturable Bragg reflectors
saturation parameter → saturable absorbers
scanning beam profilers → beam profilers
scanning delay lines → optical delay lines
semiconductor mirrors → crystalline mirrors
semiconductor saturable absorber mirrors
sensor cards → laser viewing cards
sensors → fiber-optic sensors
Shack–Hartmann wavefront sensors
silicon photonics
silver mirrors → metal-coated mirrors
singly resonant oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
slab waveguides → planar waveguides
slow absorbers → saturable absorbers
solar cells → photovoltaic cells
solar modules
spatial filters → mode cleaners
strain sensors → optical strain sensors
superluminescent diodes
superluminescent sources
Case study: ASE source with automatic spectral optimization
supermirrors
surface-emitting LEDs → light-emitting diodes
sync-pumped parametric oscillators → optical parametric oscillators
tandem OPOs → optical parametric oscillators
tapered amplifiers
temperature sensors → optical temperature sensors
terahertz detectors
terahertz sources
testing of laser diodes → laser diode testing
thermal detectors
thermal power meters → optical power meters
thermophotovoltaic generators → photovoltaic cells
thin-film coatings → dielectric coatings
thin-film mirrors → dielectric mirrors
tilted fiber Bragg gratings → fiber Bragg gratings
transmission gratings
traveling-wave photodetectors → velocity-matched photodetectors
tunable light sources → wavelength-tunable light sources
tunable optical filters
tunable retarders → Babinet–Soleil compensators
tuning fork choppers → optical choppers
two-mirror beam shapers → beam shapers
Twyman–Green interferometers
Ulbricht spheres → integrating spheres
ultrafast pulse shapers → pulse shapers
V coatings → anti-reflection coatings
vacuum tube photodetectors → phototubes
vapor cells → gas cells
variable optical attenuators
variable waveplates → Babinet–Soleil compensators
velocity-matched photodetectors
volume Bragg gratings
wavelength meters → wavemeters
wavelength-tunable light sources
wavemeters
waveplates
White cells → multipass gas cells
white light interferometers
white light sources
Physical Foundations
absorption efficiency → pump absorption
absorption saturation → pump absorption
adjoint modes → resonator modes
allowed transitions → forbidden transitions
alpha factor → linewidth enhancement factor
amplifier transitions → laser transitions
axial modes → resonator modes
band gap
bandwidth
Spotlight 2007-10-11: Understanding Fourier spectra
birefringent walk-off → spatial walk-off
blackbody radiation → thermal radiation
breakdown → laser-induced breakdown
carrier lifetime → upper-state lifetime
causality
cavity bandwidth → resonator modes
cavity modes → resonator modes
cavity resonances → resonator modes
chemiluminescence
color centers
colorimetry
concentration quenching → quenching
conical emission → laser-induced breakdown
cross relaxation → energy transfer
damage threshold → laser-induced damage
dark current
delayed nonlinear response
dispersion relations → Kramers–Kronig relations
dispersion slope → third-order dispersion
Doppler broadening
effective transition cross sections
electro-optic effect
electro-optics
electroluminescence
emission linewidth → linewidth
emission spectrum → optical spectrum
energy migration → energy transfer
energy transfer
Modeling pair-induced quenching in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
entangled states → photons
excited-state absorption
F-centers → color centers
Faraday effect
fast light → superluminal transmission
faster than light → superluminal transmission
fiber simulation software
fluorescence
fluorescence lifetime → upper-state lifetime
fluorescence quenching → quenching
forbidden transitions
Spotlight 2011-03-13: What if solid-state laser transitions would be much stronger?
Frantz–Nodvick equation → gain saturation
Füchtbauer–Ladenburg equation
gain compression → gain saturation
gain guiding
Spotlight 2017-11-02: Gaussian apertures in resonator models: not only for exotic lasers, but also for gain guiding
Spotlight 2009-07-09: Gain-guiding index-antiguiding fibers
gain narrowing
gain saturation
Case study: Erbium-doped fiber amplifier for rectangular nanosecond pulses
Spotlight 2018-05-11: Gain saturation in solid-state lasers
Spotlight 2017-08-01: Fiber amplifiers: modeling of ultrashort pulse amplification with saturation of wavelength-dependent gain
Spotlight 2015-08-08: Gain saturation with pulses
Henry factor → linewidth enhancement factor
homogeneous broadening
homogeneous saturation
in-band pumping
incandescence → thermal radiation
induced focusing → thermal lensing
inhomogeneous broadening
inhomogeneous saturation
intensity-to-phase coupling → linewidth enhancement factor
interference
Spotlight 2009-05-22: Interference effects with imbalanced intensity levels
Spotlight 2007-09-27: Light plus light = darkness: no energy problem, but quantum weirdness
inversion → population inversion
Kerr constant → Kerr effect
Kerr effect
Kerr lens
Kerr nonlinearity → Kerr effect
Kramers–Kronig relations
laser linewidth → linewidth
laser modeling
Tutorial: Modeling of fiber amplifiers and lasers
Spotlight 2017-12-04: Energy levels of solid-state gain media
Spotlight 2013-09-24: Simulation of a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser: numerical beam propagation reveals what happens, analytical reasoning explains it
Spotlight 2012-02-03: Simulation software: use commercial products or home-made software?
Spotlight 2006-11-16: Laser models – not always useful
Transverse dependencies in fiber amplifier and laser modeling
The transparent laser
What makes a good physics model
laser physics
Spotlight 2020-03-16: Laser physics helps to understand the corona virus crisis
laser transitions
Spotlight 2011-03-13: What if solid-state laser transitions would be much stronger?
laser-induced breakdown
laser-induced damage
left-handed metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
level manifolds → Stark level manifolds
light
linewidth
Derivation of the Schawlow–Townes linewidth
Spotlight 2015-10-17: The linewidth of single-frequency lasers
Spotlight 2008-07-26: Beat signals with zero linewidth
Spotlight 2007-06-24: The plague of a narrow emission linewidth
linewidth enhancement factor
luminescence
luminescence quenching → quenching
McCumber theory
metalenses → photonic metasurfaces
metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
metastable states
metasurfaces → photonic metasurfaces
mode competition
Spotlight 2007-07-16: Mode competition – increased or decreased by spatial hole burning?
mode solvers → fiber simulation software
modeling → laser modeling
modulational instability
monochromaticity → linewidth
multi-phonon transitions
Spotlight 2018-04-06: Laser physics: the essential roles of phonons in solid-state lasers
multimode beams
multiphonon absorption
multiphoton absorption
multiphoton ionization → laser-induced breakdown
near field and far field
negative-index materials → photonic metamaterials
non-radiative transitions
nonlinear polarization
nonlinear polarization waves → polarization waves
numerical modeling → pulse propagation modeling
optical bandwidth → bandwidth
optical breakdown → laser-induced breakdown
optical damage → laser-induced damage
optical damage threshold → laser-induced damage
optical frequency
Wavelength or optical frequency, what is the better specification?
optical interference → interference
optical metamaterials → photonic metamaterials
optical metasurfaces → photonic metasurfaces
optical phase
optical physics
optical pumping
optical spectrum
Spotlight 2007-10-11: Understanding Fourier spectra
pair-induced quenching → quenching
parametric nonlinearities
phase → optical phase
phase velocity
phonons
Spotlight 2018-04-06: Laser physics: the essential roles of phonons in solid-state lasers
phosphorescence
photocurrent
photoelectric effect
photoemission → photoelectric effect
photoluminescence
photonic metamaterials
photonic metasurfaces
photons
Spotlight 2008-05-05: Length of a photon
Spotlight 2007-03-23: Explaining the nature of photons to lay persons
Spotlight 2007-02-16: The science of biophotons
planar photonics → photonic metasurfaces
Planck law → thermal radiation
plane waves
Pockels effect
polarization waves
population inversion
Poynting vector walk-off → spatial walk-off
propagation losses
pulse propagation modeling
Tutorial: Modeling of pulse amplification
Numerical representation of ultrashort pulses
Ultrashort pulse simulations with the RP Fiber Power software
pump absorption
Spotlight 2016-05-12: Measurement of absorption spectra of active fibers: not as easy as one might think!
Spotlight 2007-08-22: Saturation of pump absorption – an important issue?
Spotlight 2006-11-04: Nd:YVO4 laser with polarization-independent pump absorption
Pump absorption in amplifier fibers
Case study: pump absorption in a double-clad fiber
quantum defect
quantum efficiency
quantum yield → quantum efficiency
quenching
Spotlight 2006-09-06: Quenching degrades the efficiency of some ytterbium-doped gain media
Modeling pair-induced quenching in erbium-doped fiber amplifiers
Rabi frequency → Rabi oscillations
Rabi oscillations
radiance
radiation pressure
radiative lifetime
radioluminescence → luminescence
Raman effect → Raman scattering
Raman gain
Raman scattering
Case study: Soliton self-frequency shift
Spotlight 2018-03-05: Dependence on Raman conversion on the optical bandwidth
Spotlight 2010-03-03: Thresholds for nonlinear effects in fiber amplifiers
Case study: stimulated Raman scattering in a multimode fiber
rate equation modeling
Spotlight 2008-10-20: Rate equations – an example for stiff sets of differential equations
reciprocity method
resonator bandwidth → resonator modes
resonator modes
Spotlight 2008-04-15: Abused photonics terms: modes
saturated output power → saturation power
saturation energy
saturation fluence → saturation energy
saturation intensity → saturation power
saturation of absorption → pump absorption
saturation of gain → gain saturation
saturation power
semiconductors
slow light → velocity of light
small-signal gain
spatial hole burning
Spotlight 2007-07-16: Mode competition – increased or decreased by spatial hole burning?
Spotlight 2006-09-03: Single-frequency operation stabilized by spatial hole burning
spatial walk-off
Spotlight 2007-11-19: Walk-off and phase-matching bandwidth in nonlinear crystals
Spotlight 2010-03-15: Spatial walk-off and beam quality in nonlinear frequency conversion
spectral linewidth → linewidth
spectral radiance → radiance
spectral width → bandwidth
spectrum → optical spectrum
speed of light → velocity of light
split-step Fourier technique → pulse propagation modeling
spontaneous Raman scattering → Raman scattering
standing wave pattern → interference
Stark level manifolds
stimulated emission
stimulated Raman scattering → Raman scattering
superluminal transmission
superluminescence
symmetrized split-step Fourier method → pulse propagation modeling
t-waves → terahertz radiation
tandem pumping → optical pumping
TEM modes → resonator modes
terahertz radiation
thermal lensing
Spotlight 2018-07-16: Thoughts on thermal lensing
Spotlight 2007-07-25: Higher heat generation density, stronger thermal effects?
Spotlight 2007-01-15: Origins of heating in laser crystals
Spotlight 2006-07-10: Strength of thermal lensing effects
How to treat thermal lensing in simulations
thermal radiation
third-order dispersion
transition cross sections
Spotlight 2017-12-04: Energy levels of solid-state gain media
Spotlight 2014-04-02: Lower emission cross-section leads to higher pulse energy?!?
Spotlight 2014-04-02: Lower Emission Cross-section Leads to Higher Pulse Energy?!?
transitions → laser transitions
two-photon absorption
upconversion
upconversion quenching → quenching
upper-state lifetime
Spotlight 2009-09-27: Lasers with short upper-state lifetime
vacuum velocity of light → velocity of light
velocity of light
Spotlight 2008-11-25: The Gouy phase shift speeds up light
Verdet constant → Faraday effect
visible light → light
walk-off angle → spatial walk-off
walk-off compensation → spatial walk-off
weakly allowed transitions → forbidden transitions
zero-phonon transition → McCumber theory
Quantum Optics
amplified spontaneous emission
Tutorial chapter on ASE in fiber amplifiers
Case study: ASE in ytterbium-doped fibers
Spotlight 2015-03-11: Strange time dependence of ASE from a fiber amplifier
Spotlight 2013-07-08: Amplified spontaneous emission in fiber amplifiers
Spotlight 2007-08-06: Fiber amplifiers: more ASE for larger core with higher NA?
Spotlight 2007-07-30: Fiber amplifiers: stronger ASE in backward direction
amplitude-squeezed light
anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling → optical refrigeration
antibunching → nonclassical light
blackbody radiation → thermal radiation
coherent detection → optical heterodyne detection
coherent states
Doppler cooling
Doppler limit
dressed states → Sisyphus cooling
entangled states → photons
fluorescent cooling → optical refrigeration
Fock states → nonclassical light
Glauber states → coherent states
heterodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
homodyne detection → optical heterodyne detection
incandescence → thermal radiation
key distribution → quantum cryptography
laser cooling
laser refrigeration → optical refrigeration
lasers for quantum photonics
lasing without inversion
light forces
Spotlight 2006-10-22: Lasers attract dust to cavity mirrors
no-cloning theorem → quantum cryptography
nonclassical light
one-atom lasers → single-atom lasers
optical bomb → superradiance
optical heterodyne detection
optical molasses
optical pumping
optical refrigeration
optical traps → light forces
parametric fluorescence
phase-squeezed light → squeezed states of light
photon counting
photon number states → nonclassical light
photon statistics → nonclassical light
photons
Spotlight 2008-05-05: Length of a photon
Spotlight 2007-03-23: Explaining the nature of photons to lay persons
Spotlight 2007-02-16: The science of biophotons
Planck law → thermal radiation
polarization gradient cooling → Sisyphus cooling
quadrature squeezing → squeezed states of light
quantum cryptography
quantum dots
quantum key distribution
quantum noise
Spotlight 2007-04-16: Questions and answers on shot noise
quantum optics
Spotlight 2008-05-05: Length of a photon
Spotlight 2007-09-27: Light plus light = darkness: no energy problem, but quantum weirdness
Spotlight 2007-03-23: Explaining the nature of photons to lay persons
quantum photonics
quantum wells
Rabi frequency → Rabi oscillations
Rabi oscillations
radiation pressure
recoil limit
Schawlow–Townes linewidth
shot noise
Spotlight 2007-04-16: Questions and answers on shot noise
single-atom lasers
Spotlight 2006-07-23: Single-atom lasers
Sisyphus cooling
spontaneous emission
Spotlight 2006-07-16: Spontaneous emission and amplifier noise
spontaneous emission factor → Schawlow–Townes linewidth
squeezed states of light
standard quantum limit
superfluorescence
superradiance
tandem pumping → optical pumping
thermal radiation
thresholdless lasers
vacuum noise
Spotlight 2006-08-01: Lasers disturbed by vacuum?
Zeeman slowing → Doppler cooling
Vision, Displays and Imaging
aberrations → optical aberrations
afocal optical systems
aperture stops
astigmatism
beam diagnostics → beam profilers
beam profilers
beam viewing cards → laser viewing cards
binoculars → telescopes
camera sensors → image sensors
cameras
CCD sensors → image sensors
charge injection devices → image sensors
chromaticity
CIE standard illuminants
circle of confusion → imaging with a lens
CMOS sensors → image sensors
color spaces
color temperature
color vision
coma → optical aberrations
condensers
confocal microscopy → confocal scanning microscopes
confocal scanning microscopes
conjugate planes
deformable mirrors
deformable phase plates → deformable mirrors
demagnification → magnification
depth of field
depth of focus
detector cards → laser viewing cards
diaphragms
dual-segment photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
entrance and exit pupil
exit pupil → entrance and exit pupil
eyepieces → ocular lenses
f-number
f-stop number → f-number
field curvature → optical aberrations
field lenses
field of view
field stops
flat optics
fluorescence microscopy
hand lenses → magnifying glasses
holography
hyperfocal distance
hyperspectral imaging
image converters → image intensifiers and image converters
image distortion → optical aberrations
image intensifiers and image converters
image planes
image sensors
image space → object and image space
imaging
imaging spectrometers → hyperspectral imaging
imaging with a lens
infrared cameras
infrared detector cards → laser viewing cards
infrared sensor cards → laser viewing cards
infrared thermography → thermal imaging
infrared viewers
intensity profile measurement → beam profilers
intermediate image planes → image planes
irradiance
knife edge beam profilers → beam profilers
laser microscopy
laser radar → LIDAR
laser scanners
laser viewing cards
lateral effect photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
lens speed → f-number
LIDAR
light detection and ranging → LIDAR
liquid crystal displays
loupes
luminosity
luminosity functions
magnification
magnifying glasses
microscope objectives
microscopes
multiphoton microscopy → fluorescence microscopy
multispectral imaging
nanoscopy → laser microscopy
object and image space
objective lenses → objectives
objectives
objectives for photography → photographic objectives
ocular lenses
optical aberrations
optical coherence tomography
optical images → imaging
optical imaging → imaging
optical profilometers
optical spaces → object and image space
optical surface characterization equipment → optical profilometers
optical surface profilers → optical profilometers
phosphors
photo cameras
photographic objectives
photopic vision → scotopic and photopic vision
position-sensitive detectors
primary colors → color spaces
principal points and principal planes
profilometers → optical profilometers
pupils → entrance and exit pupil
quadrant photodiodes → position-sensitive detectors
red–green–blue sources → RGB sources
RGB sources
rotating slit profilers → beam profilers
scanning beam profilers → beam profilers
scotopic and photopic vision
sensitivity of the eye → scotopic and photopic vision
sensor cards → laser viewing cards
spectral imaging
spectral sensitivity of the eye → scotopic and photopic vision
spherical aberrations
standard illuminants → CIE standard illuminants
stimulated emission depletion microscopy → fluorescence microscopy
surface profilers → optical profilometers
telecentric lenses
telescopes
thermal imaging
two-photon microscopy → fluorescence microscopy
vignetting
white light
Zernike polynomials → optical aberrations
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