Paul MandelCambridge University PressEdition: Revised ed., 8/21/2008EAN 9780521019200, ISBN10: 0521019206Paperback, 204 pages, 22.9 x 15.2 x 1.3 cmLanguage: EnglishThe scientific and technological importance of lasers has generated great interest in the field of cavity nonlinear optics. This book provides a thorough description of this subject in terms of modern dynamical systems theory. Throughout, the emphasis is on deriving analytical results and highlighting their physical significance. The early chapters introduce the physical models for active and passive cavities. In later chapters, these are applied to a variety of problems in laser theory, optical bistability and parametric oscillators. Subjects covered include scaling laws, Hopf bifurcations, passive Q-switching, and Turing instabilities. Several of the topics treated cannot be found in other books, including swept control parameter dynamics, laser stability, multimode rate equations, and antiphase dynamics. The book stresses the connections between theoretical work and actual experimental results, and will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, nonlinear optics, and laser physics.Introduction1. Reduction of the Maxwell–Schrödinger equations2. Parameter swept across a steady bifurcation I3. Parameter swept across a steady bifurcation II4. Optical bistabilityconstant input5. Optical bistabilityvariable input6. Multimode optical bistability7. Free running multimode lasers8. Antiphase dynamics9. Laser stability10. Second harmonic generation11. Saturable absorbers12. Transverse effects in optical bistability.'This book provides a thorough description of the field in terms of modern dynamical systems theory. Throughout the emphasis is on deriving analytical results and highlighting their physical significance … The book stresses the connections between theoretical work and actual experimental results and will be of great interest to graduate students and researchers in theoretical physics, nonlinear optics, and laser physics.' K. Welker, Optik
