Introduction to Nonlinear Optics

A gentle introduction to the principles of nonlinear optics, this textbook is ideal for graduate students starting research.

Geoffrey New (Author)

9781107424487, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 July 2014

274 pages, 110 b/w illus. 66 exercises
24.6 x 18.9 x 1.5 cm, 0.5 kg

Since the early days of nonlinear optics in the 1960s, the field has expanded dramatically, and is now a vast and vibrant field with countless technological applications. Providing a gentle introduction to the principles of the subject, this textbook is ideal for graduate students starting their research in this exciting area. After basic ideas have been outlined, the book offers a thorough analysis of second harmonic generation and related second-order processes, before moving on to third-order effects, the nonlinear optics of short optical pulses and coherent effects such as electromagnetically-induced transparency. A simplified treatment of high harmonic generation is presented at the end. More advanced topics, such as the linear and nonlinear optics of crystals, the tensor nature of the nonlinear coefficients and their quantum mechanical representation, are confined to specialist chapters so that readers can focus on basic principles before tackling these more difficult aspects of the subject.

1. Introduction
2. Frequency mixing
3. Crystal optics
4. Nonlinear optics in crystals
5. Third-order nonlinear processes
6. Dispersion and optical pulses
7. Nonlinear optics with pulses
8. Some quantum mechanics
9. Resonant effects
10. High harmonic generation
Appendices
Answers to problems
Book list
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Optical physics [PHJ], Physics [PH], Mathematics & science [P]