A Beginner's Guide to Lasers and Their Applications, Part 2: The Laser's Impact on Science and Humanity

This two-volume book provides an enriching insight into the laser, covering different types of lasers, the basic science behind the technology, their role at the cutting-edge of current scientific research, and their applications in medicine, industry, and the arts. With just high school physics as a prerequisite and favoring qualitative yet scientifically sound explanations over high-level mathematics, this book is aimed at a broad spectrum of readers in physics, chemistry, engineering, medicine, and biology. Its engaging and lucid presentation is enhanced with plenty of illustrations, making the world of the laser accessible to undergraduate students in the sciences and any other inquisitive readers with high school physics under their belts. It is ideal for self-study or as a complement to courses on optics and optoelectronics.

This volume, Part 2 of 2,  begins with a brief review of laser science and depicts the many advances in science enabled by the laser, includingspectroscopy, optical cooling and trapping, and optical tweezers, among many others, and provides a glimpse into the ways that the laser affects our daily lives via its uses in medicine, manufacturing, the nuclear industry, energy, communication, art conservation, fashion, beauty, and entertainment. 

It is preceded by Part 1 which explains the fundamentals of optics, what a laser is, how it works, and what is unique about the light it emits, from fundamental quantum theory through population inversion to common laser types.

Dhruba Biswas joined the laser program of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, in 1979 after obtaining his M.Sc. (Physics) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He later obtained his Ph.D. from Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, in 1986, under the supervision of his mentor Prof. Robert G. Harrison. His research work over the years has encompassed physics and technology of lasers, optical chaos, laser isotope separation, non-linear optics, laser assisted surface cleaning & modification.  He has to date over a hundred peer reviewed research publications.  While his work is commendable with respect to the new results that are of considerable academic value, it assumes greater significance as it involves technological innovations particularly appropriate from the point of view of a developing nation. He has been a recipient of a number of national and international awards, including the Indian National Science Academy Young Scientist Award in Physics, Indian National Science Academy A. K. Bose Memorial Award in Physical Sciences, N. S. Satyamurty Memorial Award of Indian Physics Association, Homi Bhabha Science & Technology Award of the Department of Atomic Energy, and Senior Associateship of the International Centre of Theoretical Physics, Trieste, Italy.  He has presented numerous invited talks in national and international symposiums, and seminars, both technical and popular, in India, USA, and many countries across Europe.  He has taught ‘Laser Physics & Technology’ course to both Physics trainees as well as all branches of engineering trainees of the BARC Training School for years nearly two decades.