Physics, Optics, and Spectroscopy of Materials

This book bridges a gap that exists between the optical spectroscopists and the laser developers, and contains eighteen chapters. The first eight chapters cover the subject of Atoms and Molecules. Chapters one and two present the main effects of light and matter interaction: light absorption, emission, and scattering, by atoms and molecules. Chapters three and four describe the energy levels in hydrogen and hydrogen-like atoms, which are the simplest atomic systems. Chapter five considers many-electron atoms, starting with helium and helium-like atoms, while chapter six considers the electronic structure of molecules, starting with the simplest and progressing to complex polyatomic molecules. The seventh and eighth chapters are devoted to classification of vibrational and rotational motions of molecules, the related energy levels scheme, and light absorption, emission and scattering. The ten later chapers cover the subject of Dielectric Solids, Optics, and Lasers. Chapter nine presents the symmetry assumed by periodic crystals in connection to those assumed by constructed molecules. In chapter ten the propagation of electromagnetic waves in a dielectric medium are covered with chapter eleven dealing with group-theoretical analysis of the internal vibrations. Chapters twelve and thirteen provide a survey of many electron atomic and ionic energy states structure, continued by the energy states splitting when atoms and/or ions occupy crystalline sites of known point symmetry, and the contribution of non-radiative transitions in those atoms and ions, namely when the transitions induce and enhance crystalline oscillations. Chapter fourteen provides a basic overview of the laser and its comprising components and chapter fifteen elaborates on three important subjects in laser beams optics. The sixteenth chapter describes methods to achieve fast Q-switching in laser cavities. Chapter seventeen describes and analyses various non-linear effects occurring in non-centro-symmetric crystals. The final chapter (eighteen) provides examples of several specific laser systems used in industry and scientific research.