Solid-state lasers for materials processing : fundamental relations and technical realizations

I Theoretical Background.- 1 Fundamentals of Solid-State Lasers.- 1.1 Energy-Level Diagram and Rate Equations.- 1.2 Amplifiers.- 1.3 Oscillator in the Stationary Case.- 1.4 Threshold and Losses.- 1.5 Influence of the Temperature.- 1.6 Oscillator in Pulsed Operation.- 1.7 Q-switch Operation.- 1.8 The 3-Level System.- 1.9 Efficiency and Optimization.- 2 Gaussian Optics.- 2.1 Gaussian Beam.- 2.2 Higher Order Modes.- 2.3 ABCD Law.- 2.4 Sign Conventions.- 2.5 Matrices of Optical Elements.- 2.6 Application of the ABCD Law.- 3 Resonators.- 3.1 Stable Resonators.- 3.2 Empty Resonators.- 3.3 Conventional Stable Resonators.- 3.4 Special Resonators with Two External Mirrors.- 3.5 Multicavity Resonators.- 3.6 Alignment Sensitivity of Stable Resonators.- 3.7 Unstable Resonators.- 4 Thermal Effects.- 4.1 Heat Efficiency.- 4.2 Temperature Profile.- 4.3 Transient Thermal Effects.- 4.4 Thermal Load.- 4.5 Influence on the Level Population.- 4.6 Thermal Lensing.- 4.7 Lens Effects in the Resonator.- 4.8 Experimental Determination of the Refracting Power.- 4.9 Thermally Invariant Resonators.- II Technical Realization.- 5 Beam Source.- 5.1 Pumping Cavity for Rods.- 5.2 Pumping Cavity for Slabs.- 5.3 Cooling.- 5.4 Cooling Unit.- 6 Gas Discharge Lamps.- 6.1 Ionization for Flash and Arc Lamps.- 6.2 Expansion of the Plasma Arc (Booster Circuit).- 6.3 Voltage Current Characteristic.- 6.4 On- and Off-Switching Characteristics.- 6.5 Transient Progress.- 6.6 Lifetime.- 6.7 Spectral Characteristics.- 6.8 Radiation Characteristic.- 6.9 Recommendations for Operation.- 7 Excitation by Diodes.- 7.1 Concepts.- 7.2 Layout of the Laser Diodes.- 7.3 Semiconductor Materials.- 7.4 Technical Data of the Laser Diodes.- 7.5 Excitation of a Solid-State Laser.- 8 Electrical Circuits.- 8.1 Ignition Circuits.- 8.2 Power Supplies.- 8.3 Energy Storage.- 8.4 Power Modulation.- 9 Optics.- 9.1 Focusing Optics.- 9.2 Lens Aberrations.- 9.3 Scanning Systems.- 9.4 Beam Splitter.- 9.5 Beam Guiding by Fibers.- 9.6 Transformation of Constant Resonator Parameters.- 9.7 Laser-Induced Damage.- 10 Material Processing..- 10.1 Beam Parameters.- 10.2 Material Parameters.- 10.3 Application Parameters.- 10.4 Relations Between the Parameters.- 10.5 Measurement Procedures.- III Data and Specifications.- 11 Laser Materials.- 11.1 Parameter Specification.- 11.2 Active Ions.- 12 Laser Crystals.- 13 Laser Glasses.- 14 Material Data.- 14.1 Optical Transparent Media.- 14.2 Materials for Manufacturing.- 15 Tables and Constants.- 15.1 Conversion Tables.- 15.2 Special Conversions.- 15.3 Physical Constants.- 15.4 Mathematical Constants.- References.