BOOKS Excitation of atoms and broadening of spectral lines /./. Sobe/man, L.A. Vainshte/n and E.A. Yukov
Laser spectroscopy W. Demtr~der
Springer-Verlag, 1981, pp 315 + x, DM75, $ 44.30
This is a textbook which IS an introduction to modern techniques and instrumentation in laser spectroscopy. It closes the gap between advanced research papers and the presentation of fundamental principles and experimental techniques. The book begins with a discussion of the fundamental concepts of classical spectroscopy such as thermal radiation, induced and spontaneous emission, radiation power and intensity, linear and non-linear absorption and dispersion. Coherence concepts including definitions of the mutual coherence function and the degree of coherence are covered. The equation for interference for partially coherent light is derived. Then follows a chapter on widths and profiles of spectral lines in which the different causes of broadening are treated.
This book written by three Russian workers is a systematic treatment of the theory of the elementary processes responsible for the excitation of atomic spectra and the theory of spectral line broadening. Its main object is to present the reader with the most efficient and useful of approximate methods for the calculation and estimation of cross-sections. The theory of atomic collisions is not comprehensive but the fundamentals given are sufficient for the understanding of the formulation of the approximate methods. The book contains numerous tables of the results of approximate cross-section calculations. In covering the theory of line broadening the presentation IS based on the density-matrix and quantum kinetic equation methods which permit the line shape to be described in the case of spontaneous emission or linear absorption and also allow non-linear effects arising in laser spectroscopy to be considered. There are about 200 references covering work up to 1979. H. G. Jerrard
Laser spectroscopy V Edited b v A. R. W. McKe//ar, T. Oka and B.P. Sto/cheff Springer-Verlag, 1981, pp 495 + xa, DM 70, $32.60 This is the latest volume m the Springer series in optical sciences. It contains the 84 papers presented at the fifth International Conference on Laser Spectroscopy held in Jasper, Canada in June-July 1981. The first paper is an introductory review on the progress and perspectives in laser spectroscopy. Then follow 15 papers on applications including two which deal with attempts to detect gravitational radmtion. Double resonance, colhsion-lnduced phenomena, non-linear processes and methods of studying unstable species are covered by some 47 papers. A panel discussion on Rydberg state spectroscopy is reported. There are four papers on cooling, trapping and control of ions, atoms and molecules followed by papers on surface and solid-state studies and the vacuum ultra-violet. The final paper deals with progress in new laser sources. The book provides the reader with an up-to-date coverage of developments in one of the most lively fields in physics. H. G. Jerrard
OPTICS AND LASER TECHNOLOGY. AUGUST 1982
Sprmger-Verlag, 1981, pp 694 + xtii, DM69, $31.40
Chapter 4 covers spectroscopic instrumentation. Although spectrographs and monochromators are likely to be of decreasing importance in laser spectroscopy they receive adequate description. Modern techniques use a number of kinds of interferometer: these are covered in detail. New techniques of wavelength measurement are discussed followed by a section on the detection of light. In the next two chapters the fundamentals of lasers are presented with a discussion of laser characteristics that are important in laser spectroscopy. The problems of wavelength stabilization and continuous wavelength tuning are treated. The seventh chapter deals with different types of tunable coherent light sources: it includes tunable infra-red lasers, dye lasers, excuner lasers, tunable Raman lasers, non-. linear optical mixing techniques and the optical parametric oscillator. This concludes the first part of the book and the second half is a presentation of various applications of lasers in spectroscopy. Firstly the field of laser ab sorption spectroscopy is examined with its different high sensitivity techniques such as intracavity absorption, excitation spectroscopy, photo-acoustic spectroscopy and laser magnetic resonance. This spectroscopy is limited m principle by the Doppler width of the absorbing molecule. Doppler-free absorption spectroscopy is covered in a later chapter as is laser Raman spectroscopy. Investigations of transient phenomena with short laser pulses can reach a time resolution below 10-12 S and there is a chapter covering such time resolving techniques as quantum beats, photon echoes and pulsed Fourier transform spectroscopy. Scattering processes give information about atomic structure and interatomic potentials and these are discussed.
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