Nonlinear Optical Systems

An in-depth exploration of the dynamics of lasers and other relevant optical systems for graduate students and researchers.

Luigi Lugiato (Author), Franco Prati (Author), Massimo Brambilla (Author)

9781107062672, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 5 March 2015

464 pages, 169 b/w illus.
25.3 x 19.5 x 2.4 cm, 1.18 kg

'The reader will gain an in-depth familiarity with the field. This book can be used as a rich research resource and as a complementary text. It is suitable for graduate students as well as researchers in the field.' A. Zakery, Optics and Photonics News

Guiding graduate students and researchers through the complex world of laser physics and nonlinear optics, this book provides an in-depth exploration of the dynamics of lasers and other relevant optical systems, under the umbrella of a unitary spatio-temporal vision. Adopting a balanced approach, the book covers traditional as well as special topics in laser physics, quantum electronics and nonlinear optics, treating them from the viewpoint of nonlinear dynamical systems. These include laser emission, frequency generation, solitons, optically bistable systems, pulsations and chaos and optical pattern formation. It also provides a coherent and up-to-date treatment of the hierarchy of nonlinear optical models and of the rich variety of phenomena they describe, helping readers to understand the limits of validity of each model and the connections among the phenomena. It is ideal for graduate students and researchers in nonlinear optics, quantum electronics, laser physics and photonics.

Preface
Part I. Models, Propagation, Steady-State Phenomena: 1. Rate equation model for the laser
2. Interaction of a system of two-level atoms with the electromagnetic field
3. The Maxwell–Bloch equations
4. Inclusion of the irreversible processes in the atomic equations
5. Linear and nonlinear propagation in irreversible Maxwell–Bloch equations
6. Optical nonlinearities: materials with quadratic nonlinearities
7. Optical nonlinearities: materials with cubic nonlinearities
8. Optical resonators: the planar ring cavity, empty cavity, linear cavity
9. Nonlinear active ring cavity: the ring laser, stationary states
10. The adiabatic elimination principle
11. Nonlinear passive ring cavity: optical bistability
12. Modal equations for the ring cavity: the single-mode model
13. Single- and two-mode models
14. Nonlinear dynamics in Fabry–Perot cavities
15. Inhomogeneous broadening
16. The semiconductor laser
17. Laser without inversion and the effects of atomic coherence
Part II. Dynamical Phenomena, Instabilities, Chaos: 18. Some general aspects in nonlinear dissipative dynamical systems
19. Special limits in the single-mode model
20. The linear stability analysis of Maxwell–Bloch equations
21. Adiabatic elimination in the complete Maxwell–Bloch equations
22. Dynamical aspects in the laser
23. Single- and multi-mode operation in inhomogeneously broadened lasers
24. Dynamical aspects in optical bistability
25. Self-pulsing in other optical systems
Part III. Transverse Optical Patterns: 26. Gaussian beams and modes of cavities with spherical mirrors
27. General features about optical pattern formation in planar cavities
28. The LL model
29. Spatial patterns in cavities with spherical mirrors
30. Cavity solitons
Appendixes
References
Index.

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