Over the last few years, there has been a convergence between the fields of ultrafast science, nonlinear optics, optical frequency metrology, and precision laser spectroscopy. These fields have been developing largely independently since the birth of the laser, reaching remarkable levels of performance. On the ultrafast frontier, pulses of only a few cycles long have been produced, while in optical spectroscopy, the precision and resolution have reached one part in Although these two achievements appear to be completely disconnected, advances in nonlinear optics provided the essential link between them. The resulting convergence has enabled unprecedented advances in the control of the electric field of the pulses produced by femtosecond mode-locked lasers. The corresponding spectrum consists of a comb of sharp spectral lines with well-defined frequencies. These new techniques and capabilities are generally known as “femtosecond comb technology. ” They have had dramatic impact on the diverse fields of precision measurement and extreme nonlinear optical physics. The historical background for these developments is provided in the Foreword by two of the pioneers of laser spectroscopy, John Hall and Theodor Hänsch. Indeed the developments described in this book were foreshadowed by Hänsch’s early work in the 1970s when he used picosecond pulses to demonstrate the connection between the time and frequency domains in laser spectroscopy. This work complemented the advances in precision laser stabilization developed by Hall.

The purpose of this book is two-fold. First, the various different methods of accessing the THz range are discussed, with a view to convince the reader that there have been qualitative and significant improvements over older, more conventional techniques. The text makes it clear that these improvements enable practical "real-world" applications of THz technology, in a manner which would not have been possible before. Second, the demonstrations and feasibility tests described serve as compelling evidence of the utility of such devices. Due to the unique characteristics of THz radiation and its interaction with materials, these devices have substantial advantages over other competing technologies in a number of different areas.

Nonlinear photonics is the name given to the use of nonlinear optical devices for the generation, communication, processing, or analysis of information. This book is a progress report on research into practical applications of such devices. At present, modulation, switching, routing, decision-making, and detection in photonic systems are all done with electronics and linear optoelectronic devices. However, this may soon change, as nonlinear optical devices, e.g. picosecond samplers and switches, begin to complement optoelectonic devices. The authors succinctly summarize past accomplishments in this field and point to hopes for the future, making this an ideal book for newcomers or seasoned researchers wanting to design and perfect nonlinear optical devices and to identify applications in photonic systems.

Advanced textbook on crystal nonlinear optics.

The resonator can be considered the real heart of any laser system, the key element that determines the properties of laser radiation, including mode structure or temporal and spatial characteristics. The theory of different laser types has been well-developed in the last few decades of the 20th century, starting with the pioneering papers of Fox, Li, Body and Gordon. But today, due to the development of new types of lasers (fibre, diode), new optical elements (adaptive mirrors, phase conjugation techniques, graded phase correctors), the development of optical technology, and new needs for industrial lasers, novel types of resonators are under investigation.

Published on the occasion of Theodor Hänsch's 60th Birthday emphasis is placed on precision related to results in a variety of fields, such as atomic clocks, frequency standards, and the measurement of physical constants in atomic physics. Furthermore, illustrations and engineering applications of the fundamentals of quantum mechanics are widely covered. It has contributions by Nobel prize winners Norman F. Ramsey, Steven Chu, and Carl E. Wieman.