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Frontiers in laser spectroscopy
BookReviews that the author has achieved his hoped for balance between exact scientific truth and perfect understanding. M. O’Neill Department of Applied Physics University of Hull, UK
Frontiers in Laser Spectroscopy Edited by T. W. Hiinseh and M. Znguscio North Holland Elsevier Science Publisher, 1994, ISBN O-444-81944-4, pp xvi + 598, US$240 The book is based on a series of lectures at the International Congress in Italy (course CXX) in 1992 by some 21 internationally recognized experts in their fields. It starts with a comprehensive overview of the present state of the art of laser spectroscopy by Professor Schawlow - one of the pioneers of lasers. The following chapters cover fields of spectroscopy in wavelength bands ranging from FIR (Demtroder et al) to VUV (Stoicheff) and their diverse and esoteric applications in fundamental science. The spectacular progress in laser spectroscopy and its applications in recent years is due primarily to the advancements in electro-optics and laser technologies. This aspect is brought home quite succinctly by J.L. Hall, hailing frequency-stabilized lasers as a driving force for new spectroscopies, and M. Inguscio in the chapter on high-resolution and high-sensitivity spectroscopy using semiconductor lasers. The uses of such lasers, having extremely narrow linewidth and unprecedented stability coupled with innovative experimental techniques, have allowed access to forbidden states and overtone bands of solid H2 and Hs ions. The uses of such spectroscopic studies in plasma science and astronomy have been elucidated by T. Oka. In addition, some of the authors give theoretical analyses and experimental details of high-resolution (sub-Doppler) and time-resolved laser spectroscopy for studies on the structure and dynamics of small molecules, such as Nas (Demtrdder et al), CO (Stoicheff), H2 (Julien et al), Ps (S.Chu), Pb+ and Eu+ (G. Werth) etc. An interesting chronology of events leading to the final measurement of the speed of light and a new definition of the presented metre is presented by K.M. Everson. The review is most up to date, and includes an outlook by the author on the new technologies for generating highly stable FIR output from metalinsulator-metal diodes and locking their outputs with those of visible ones for more accurate measurements of fundamental constants such as the speed of light, Rydberg constant etc and to establish ever more precise time and distance standards.
X
The use of high-resolution spectroscopy of Hz atoms for the accurate measurement of the Rydberg constant is also described. Several authors have dealt with the applications of lasers and laser spectroscopic techniques for the studies of surface and interface properties (Y.R. Shen), for gas manipulations such as isotope separation, atom desorption etc (L. Moi). Chapters on ion traps and laser cooling describe some most ingenious applications of lasers and modern electro-optic technologies to validate the theories of quantum mechanics and chaos by enabling hyperfine spectroscopy of single atoms. The book includes quite a few scattered sections on the applications of state-of-the-art laser spectroscopy to validate or test the assumptions and outcome of analyses of quantum electrodynamics, thus touching on the theory of chaos. These aspects constitute a major chapter entitled ‘Quantum Optics.’ The book is undoubtedly a treasure trove for enquiring minds trying to understand the nature of radiation fields and matter, and finally to look for a thread between the classical and quantum concepts of the world. The book is simply too large and the topics are too diverse, although very specialized, to allow a comprehensive review. Topics in many of the sections, which belong to different chapters are complementary. However, the sections and chapters are not put together coherently and readers might find it difficult to struggle between sections and chapters in order to get their teeth into a particular topic. It is not a good idea to squeeze such diverse topics into one very heavy (both in price and weight) book. It might have been useful to produce two or even three books separating the topics into, for example, applied spectroscopy, spectroscopy in fundamental studies, spectroscopy in quantum optics, etc. S. Rafi Ahmad RMCS Cranfield University, UK
Erratum Two mistakes unfortunately appeared in the paper “Concept for testing two-mirror optical telescopes”, by D. T. Puryayev [Optics and Laser Technology, 28 (1996) 327-3361. The equation on page 330 should read: r=
R (ef-1)‘”
and, in Table 8 on page 333, the final figure in the first column should be -3384.62.
Optics & Laser Technology Vol28 No 7 1996
Frontiers in Laser Spectroscopy Edited by T. W. Hiinseh and M. Znguscio North Holland Elsevier Science Publisher, 1994, ISBN O-444-81944-4, pp xvi + 598, US$240 The book is based on a series of lectures at the International Congress in Italy (course CXX) in 1992 by some 21 internationally recognized experts in their fields. It starts with a comprehensive overview of the present state of the art of laser spectroscopy by Professor Schawlow - one of the pioneers of lasers. The following chapters cover fields of spectroscopy in wavelength bands ranging from FIR (Demtroder et al) to VUV (Stoicheff) and their diverse and esoteric applications in fundamental science. The spectacular progress in laser spectroscopy and its applications in recent years is due primarily to the advancements in electro-optics and laser technologies. This aspect is brought home quite succinctly by J.L. Hall, hailing frequency-stabilized lasers as a driving force for new spectroscopies, and M. Inguscio in the chapter on high-resolution and high-sensitivity spectroscopy using semiconductor lasers. The uses of such lasers, having extremely narrow linewidth and unprecedented stability coupled with innovative experimental techniques, have allowed access to forbidden states and overtone bands of solid H2 and Hs ions. The uses of such spectroscopic studies in plasma science and astronomy have been elucidated by T. Oka. In addition, some of the authors give theoretical analyses and experimental details of high-resolution (sub-Doppler) and time-resolved laser spectroscopy for studies on the structure and dynamics of small molecules, such as Nas (Demtrdder et al), CO (Stoicheff), H2 (Julien et al), Ps (S.Chu), Pb+ and Eu+ (G. Werth) etc. An interesting chronology of events leading to the final measurement of the speed of light and a new definition of the presented metre is presented by K.M. Everson. The review is most up to date, and includes an outlook by the author on the new technologies for generating highly stable FIR output from metalinsulator-metal diodes and locking their outputs with those of visible ones for more accurate measurements of fundamental constants such as the speed of light, Rydberg constant etc and to establish ever more precise time and distance standards.
X
The use of high-resolution spectroscopy of Hz atoms for the accurate measurement of the Rydberg constant is also described. Several authors have dealt with the applications of lasers and laser spectroscopic techniques for the studies of surface and interface properties (Y.R. Shen), for gas manipulations such as isotope separation, atom desorption etc (L. Moi). Chapters on ion traps and laser cooling describe some most ingenious applications of lasers and modern electro-optic technologies to validate the theories of quantum mechanics and chaos by enabling hyperfine spectroscopy of single atoms. The book includes quite a few scattered sections on the applications of state-of-the-art laser spectroscopy to validate or test the assumptions and outcome of analyses of quantum electrodynamics, thus touching on the theory of chaos. These aspects constitute a major chapter entitled ‘Quantum Optics.’ The book is undoubtedly a treasure trove for enquiring minds trying to understand the nature of radiation fields and matter, and finally to look for a thread between the classical and quantum concepts of the world. The book is simply too large and the topics are too diverse, although very specialized, to allow a comprehensive review. Topics in many of the sections, which belong to different chapters are complementary. However, the sections and chapters are not put together coherently and readers might find it difficult to struggle between sections and chapters in order to get their teeth into a particular topic. It is not a good idea to squeeze such diverse topics into one very heavy (both in price and weight) book. It might have been useful to produce two or even three books separating the topics into, for example, applied spectroscopy, spectroscopy in fundamental studies, spectroscopy in quantum optics, etc. S. Rafi Ahmad RMCS Cranfield University, UK
Erratum Two mistakes unfortunately appeared in the paper “Concept for testing two-mirror optical telescopes”, by D. T. Puryayev [Optics and Laser Technology, 28 (1996) 327-3361. The equation on page 330 should read: r=
R (ef-1)‘”
and, in Table 8 on page 333, the final figure in the first column should be -3384.62.
Optics & Laser Technology Vol28 No 7 1996