Photonics: Linear and Nonlinear Interactions of Laser Light and Matter

Since the invention of the laser in 1960 there has been an enormous increase in the number of applications of this newly available light and its spectacular properties, and there is no end to this development in sight. In many ?elds of science, technology and medicine laser photons are the driving force of progress. In the near future we will probably experience a further rapid - velopment in this ?eld as a result of the widespread industrial production of semiconductor diode lasers and new nonlinear optical materials. Light from the new lasers may become even cheaper than that from light bulbs. Thus, laser optic devices will in?uence all sectors of private and public life. Thehighpower,highbrightness,narrowbandwidth,goodcoherence,s- cial polarization and/or short pulses of laser light beams enable new appli- tions. Many of these processes will be based on nonlinear optical interactions of the laser light with suitable optical material. In these interactions the - terial is modi?ed by the incident light. The light is then in turn modi?ed by the modi?ed matter. Finally, the nonlinear modi?cation of light as a function of other light becomes possible. Light is modi?ed by light. To use laser light in this sense in science, technology and medicine, kn- ledge from di?erent ?elds of physics, chemistry and engineering is necessary.