Author: Sonia Boscolo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119088127
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 486
Book Description
This book is a contemporary overview of selected topics in fiber optics. It focuses on the latest research results on light wave manipulation using nonlinear optical fibers, with the aim of capturing some of the most innovative developments on this topic. The book’s scope covers both fundamentals and applications from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, with topics including linear and nonlinear effects, pulse propagation phenomena and pulse shaping, solitons and rogue waves, novel optical fibers, supercontinuum generation, polarization management, optical signal processing, fiber lasers, optical wave turbulence, light propagation in disordered fiber media, and slow and fast light. With contributions from leading-edge scientists in the field of nonlinear photonics and fiber optics, they offer an overview of the latest advances in their own research area. The listing of recent research papers at the end of each chapter is useful for researchers using the book as a reference. As the book addresses fundamental and practical photonics problems, it will also be of interest to, and benefit, broader academic communities, including areas such as nonlinear science, applied mathematics and physics, and optical engineering. It offers the reader a wide and critical overview of the state-of-the-art within this practical – as well as fundamentally important and interesting – area of modern science, providing a useful reference which will encourage further research and advances in the field.
Shaping Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers
Author: Sonia Boscolo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119088127
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 486
Book Description
This book is a contemporary overview of selected topics in fiber optics. It focuses on the latest research results on light wave manipulation using nonlinear optical fibers, with the aim of capturing some of the most innovative developments on this topic. The book’s scope covers both fundamentals and applications from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, with topics including linear and nonlinear effects, pulse propagation phenomena and pulse shaping, solitons and rogue waves, novel optical fibers, supercontinuum generation, polarization management, optical signal processing, fiber lasers, optical wave turbulence, light propagation in disordered fiber media, and slow and fast light. With contributions from leading-edge scientists in the field of nonlinear photonics and fiber optics, they offer an overview of the latest advances in their own research area. The listing of recent research papers at the end of each chapter is useful for researchers using the book as a reference. As the book addresses fundamental and practical photonics problems, it will also be of interest to, and benefit, broader academic communities, including areas such as nonlinear science, applied mathematics and physics, and optical engineering. It offers the reader a wide and critical overview of the state-of-the-art within this practical – as well as fundamentally important and interesting – area of modern science, providing a useful reference which will encourage further research and advances in the field.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119088127
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 486
Book Description
This book is a contemporary overview of selected topics in fiber optics. It focuses on the latest research results on light wave manipulation using nonlinear optical fibers, with the aim of capturing some of the most innovative developments on this topic. The book’s scope covers both fundamentals and applications from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, with topics including linear and nonlinear effects, pulse propagation phenomena and pulse shaping, solitons and rogue waves, novel optical fibers, supercontinuum generation, polarization management, optical signal processing, fiber lasers, optical wave turbulence, light propagation in disordered fiber media, and slow and fast light. With contributions from leading-edge scientists in the field of nonlinear photonics and fiber optics, they offer an overview of the latest advances in their own research area. The listing of recent research papers at the end of each chapter is useful for researchers using the book as a reference. As the book addresses fundamental and practical photonics problems, it will also be of interest to, and benefit, broader academic communities, including areas such as nonlinear science, applied mathematics and physics, and optical engineering. It offers the reader a wide and critical overview of the state-of-the-art within this practical – as well as fundamentally important and interesting – area of modern science, providing a useful reference which will encourage further research and advances in the field.
Odyssey of Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers
Author: Kuppuswamy Porsezian
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482236141
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 568
Book Description
Odyssey of Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers: Theory and Applications presents a collection of breakthrough research portraying the odyssey of light from optical solitons to optical rogue waves in nonlinear optical fibers. The book provides a simple yet holistic view on the theoretical and application-oriented aspects of light, with a special focus on the underlying nonlinear phenomena. Exploring the very frontiers of light-wave technology, the text covers the basics of nonlinear fiberoptics and the dynamics of electromagnetic pulse propagation in nonlinear waveguides. It also highlights some of the latest advances in nonlinear optical fiber technology, discussing hidden symmetry reductions and Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur (AKNS) hierarchies for nonautonomous solitons, state-of-the-art Brillouin scattering applications, backpropagation, and the concept of eigenvalue communication—a powerful nonlinear digital signal processing technique that paves the way to overcome the current limitations of traditional communications methods in nonlinear fiber channels. Key chapters study the feasibility of the eigenvalue demodulation scheme based on digital coherent technology by throwing light on the experimental study of the noise tolerance of the demodulated eigenvalues, investigate matter wave solitons and other localized excitations pertaining to Bose–Einstein condensates in atom optics, and examine quantum field theory analogue effects occurring in binary waveguide arrays, plasmonic arrays, etc., as well as their ensuing nonlinear wave propagation. Featuring a foreword by Dr. Akira Hasegawa, the father of soliton communication systems, Odyssey of Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers: Theory and Applications serves as a curtain raiser to usher in the photonics era. The technological innovations at the core of the book form the basis for the next generation of ultra-high speed computers and telecommunication devices.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1482236141
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 568
Book Description
Odyssey of Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers: Theory and Applications presents a collection of breakthrough research portraying the odyssey of light from optical solitons to optical rogue waves in nonlinear optical fibers. The book provides a simple yet holistic view on the theoretical and application-oriented aspects of light, with a special focus on the underlying nonlinear phenomena. Exploring the very frontiers of light-wave technology, the text covers the basics of nonlinear fiberoptics and the dynamics of electromagnetic pulse propagation in nonlinear waveguides. It also highlights some of the latest advances in nonlinear optical fiber technology, discussing hidden symmetry reductions and Ablowitz–Kaup–Newell–Segur (AKNS) hierarchies for nonautonomous solitons, state-of-the-art Brillouin scattering applications, backpropagation, and the concept of eigenvalue communication—a powerful nonlinear digital signal processing technique that paves the way to overcome the current limitations of traditional communications methods in nonlinear fiber channels. Key chapters study the feasibility of the eigenvalue demodulation scheme based on digital coherent technology by throwing light on the experimental study of the noise tolerance of the demodulated eigenvalues, investigate matter wave solitons and other localized excitations pertaining to Bose–Einstein condensates in atom optics, and examine quantum field theory analogue effects occurring in binary waveguide arrays, plasmonic arrays, etc., as well as their ensuing nonlinear wave propagation. Featuring a foreword by Dr. Akira Hasegawa, the father of soliton communication systems, Odyssey of Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers: Theory and Applications serves as a curtain raiser to usher in the photonics era. The technological innovations at the core of the book form the basis for the next generation of ultra-high speed computers and telecommunication devices.
Shaping Light in Nonlinear Optical Fibers
Author: Sonia Boscolo
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119088143
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 522
Book Description
This book is a contemporary overview of selected topics in fiber optics. It focuses on the latest research results on light wave manipulation using nonlinear optical fibers, with the aim of capturing some of the most innovative developments on this topic. The book’s scope covers both fundamentals and applications from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, with topics including linear and nonlinear effects, pulse propagation phenomena and pulse shaping, solitons and rogue waves, novel optical fibers, supercontinuum generation, polarization management, optical signal processing, fiber lasers, optical wave turbulence, light propagation in disordered fiber media, and slow and fast light. With contributions from leading-edge scientists in the field of nonlinear photonics and fiber optics, they offer an overview of the latest advances in their own research area. The listing of recent research papers at the end of each chapter is useful for researchers using the book as a reference. As the book addresses fundamental and practical photonics problems, it will also be of interest to, and benefit, broader academic communities, including areas such as nonlinear science, applied mathematics and physics, and optical engineering. It offers the reader a wide and critical overview of the state-of-the-art within this practical – as well as fundamentally important and interesting – area of modern science, providing a useful reference which will encourage further research and advances in the field.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119088143
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 522
Book Description
This book is a contemporary overview of selected topics in fiber optics. It focuses on the latest research results on light wave manipulation using nonlinear optical fibers, with the aim of capturing some of the most innovative developments on this topic. The book’s scope covers both fundamentals and applications from both theoretical and experimental perspectives, with topics including linear and nonlinear effects, pulse propagation phenomena and pulse shaping, solitons and rogue waves, novel optical fibers, supercontinuum generation, polarization management, optical signal processing, fiber lasers, optical wave turbulence, light propagation in disordered fiber media, and slow and fast light. With contributions from leading-edge scientists in the field of nonlinear photonics and fiber optics, they offer an overview of the latest advances in their own research area. The listing of recent research papers at the end of each chapter is useful for researchers using the book as a reference. As the book addresses fundamental and practical photonics problems, it will also be of interest to, and benefit, broader academic communities, including areas such as nonlinear science, applied mathematics and physics, and optical engineering. It offers the reader a wide and critical overview of the state-of-the-art within this practical – as well as fundamentally important and interesting – area of modern science, providing a useful reference which will encourage further research and advances in the field.
Applications of Nonlinear Fiber Optics
Author: Govind P. Agrawal
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080568769
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 523
Book Description
The development of new highly nonlinear fibers - referred to as microstructured fibers, holey fibers and photonic crystal fibers - is the next generation technology for all-optical signal processing and biomedical applications. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to incorporate these key technology developments. The book presents sound coverage of the fundamentals of lightwave technology, along with material on pulse compression techniques and rare-earth-doped fiber amplifiers and lasers. The extensively revised chapters include information on fiber-optic communication systems and the ultrafast signal processing techniques that make use of nonlinear phenomena in optical fibers. New material focuses on the applications of highly nonlinear fibers in areas ranging from wavelength laser tuning and nonlinear spectroscopy to biomedical imaging and frequency metrology. Technologies such as quantum cryptography, quantum computing, and quantum communications are also covered in a new chapter. This book will be an ideal reference for: R&D engineers working on developing next generation optical components; scientists involved with research on fiber amplifiers and lasers; graduate students and researchers working in the fields of optical communications and quantum information. The only book on how to develop nonlinear fiber optic applications Two new chapters on the latest developments; Highly Nonlinear Fibers and Quantum Applications Coverage of biomedical applications
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 0080568769
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 523
Book Description
The development of new highly nonlinear fibers - referred to as microstructured fibers, holey fibers and photonic crystal fibers - is the next generation technology for all-optical signal processing and biomedical applications. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to incorporate these key technology developments. The book presents sound coverage of the fundamentals of lightwave technology, along with material on pulse compression techniques and rare-earth-doped fiber amplifiers and lasers. The extensively revised chapters include information on fiber-optic communication systems and the ultrafast signal processing techniques that make use of nonlinear phenomena in optical fibers. New material focuses on the applications of highly nonlinear fibers in areas ranging from wavelength laser tuning and nonlinear spectroscopy to biomedical imaging and frequency metrology. Technologies such as quantum cryptography, quantum computing, and quantum communications are also covered in a new chapter. This book will be an ideal reference for: R&D engineers working on developing next generation optical components; scientists involved with research on fiber amplifiers and lasers; graduate students and researchers working in the fields of optical communications and quantum information. The only book on how to develop nonlinear fiber optic applications Two new chapters on the latest developments; Highly Nonlinear Fibers and Quantum Applications Coverage of biomedical applications
Advances in Nonlinear Photonics
Author: Giancarlo C. Righini
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0323985807
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 564
Book Description
Advances in Nonlinear Photonics combines fundamental principles with an overview of the latest developments. The book is suitable for the multidisciplinary audience of photonics researchers and practitioners in academia and R&D, including materials scientists and engineers, applied physicists, chemists, etc. As nonlinear phenomena are at the core of photonic devices and may enable future applications such as all-optical switching, all-optical signal processing and quantum photonics, this book provides an overview of key concepts. In addition, the book reviews the most important advances in the field and how nonlinear processes may be exploited in different photonic applications. - Introduces fundamental principles of nonlinear phenomena and their application in materials and devices - Reviews and provides definitions of the latest research directions in the field of nonlinear photonics - Discusses the most important developments in materials and applications, including future prospects
Publisher: Elsevier
ISBN: 0323985807
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 564
Book Description
Advances in Nonlinear Photonics combines fundamental principles with an overview of the latest developments. The book is suitable for the multidisciplinary audience of photonics researchers and practitioners in academia and R&D, including materials scientists and engineers, applied physicists, chemists, etc. As nonlinear phenomena are at the core of photonic devices and may enable future applications such as all-optical switching, all-optical signal processing and quantum photonics, this book provides an overview of key concepts. In addition, the book reviews the most important advances in the field and how nonlinear processes may be exploited in different photonic applications. - Introduces fundamental principles of nonlinear phenomena and their application in materials and devices - Reviews and provides definitions of the latest research directions in the field of nonlinear photonics - Discusses the most important developments in materials and applications, including future prospects
Fundamentals of Photonics
Author: Bahaa E. A. Saleh
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119702119
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 2127
Book Description
Fundamentals of Photonics A complete, thoroughly updated, full-color third edition Fundamentals of Photonics, Third Edition is a self-contained and up-to-date introductory-level textbook that thoroughly surveys this rapidly expanding area of engineering and applied physics. Featuring a blend of theory and applications, coverage includes detailed accounts of the primary theories of light, including ray optics, wave optics, electromagnetic optics, and photon optics, as well as the interaction of light and matter. Presented at increasing levels of complexity, preliminary sections build toward more advanced topics, such as Fourier optics and holography, photonic-crystal optics, guided-wave and fiber optics, LEDs and lasers, acousto-optic and electro-optic devices, nonlinear optical devices, ultrafast optics, optical interconnects and switches, and optical fiber communications. The third edition features an entirely new chapter on the optics of metals and plasmonic devices. Each chapter contains highlighted equations, exercises, problems, summaries, and selected reading lists. Examples of real systems are included to emphasize the concepts governing applications of current interest. Each of the twenty-four chapters of the second edition has been thoroughly updated.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119702119
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 2127
Book Description
Fundamentals of Photonics A complete, thoroughly updated, full-color third edition Fundamentals of Photonics, Third Edition is a self-contained and up-to-date introductory-level textbook that thoroughly surveys this rapidly expanding area of engineering and applied physics. Featuring a blend of theory and applications, coverage includes detailed accounts of the primary theories of light, including ray optics, wave optics, electromagnetic optics, and photon optics, as well as the interaction of light and matter. Presented at increasing levels of complexity, preliminary sections build toward more advanced topics, such as Fourier optics and holography, photonic-crystal optics, guided-wave and fiber optics, LEDs and lasers, acousto-optic and electro-optic devices, nonlinear optical devices, ultrafast optics, optical interconnects and switches, and optical fiber communications. The third edition features an entirely new chapter on the optics of metals and plasmonic devices. Each chapter contains highlighted equations, exercises, problems, summaries, and selected reading lists. Examples of real systems are included to emphasize the concepts governing applications of current interest. Each of the twenty-four chapters of the second edition has been thoroughly updated.
All-Optical Signal Processing
Author: Stefan Wabnitz
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 331914992X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 525
Book Description
This book provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the art of optical signal processing technologies and devices. It presents breakthrough solutions for enabling a pervasive use of optics in data communication and signal storage applications. It presents presents optical signal processing as solution to overcome the capacity crunch in communication networks. The book content ranges from the development of innovative materials and devices, such as graphene and slow light structures, to the use of nonlinear optics for secure quantum information processing and overcoming the classical Shannon limit on channel capacity and microwave signal processing. Although it holds the promise for a substantial speed improvement, today’s communication infrastructure optics remains largely confined to the signal transport layer, as it lags behind electronics as far as signal processing is concerned. This situation will change in the near future as the tremendous growth of data traffic requires energy efficient and fully transparent all-optical networks. The book is written by leaders in the field.
Publisher: Springer
ISBN: 331914992X
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 525
Book Description
This book provides a comprehensive review of the state-of-the art of optical signal processing technologies and devices. It presents breakthrough solutions for enabling a pervasive use of optics in data communication and signal storage applications. It presents presents optical signal processing as solution to overcome the capacity crunch in communication networks. The book content ranges from the development of innovative materials and devices, such as graphene and slow light structures, to the use of nonlinear optics for secure quantum information processing and overcoming the classical Shannon limit on channel capacity and microwave signal processing. Although it holds the promise for a substantial speed improvement, today’s communication infrastructure optics remains largely confined to the signal transport layer, as it lags behind electronics as far as signal processing is concerned. This situation will change in the near future as the tremendous growth of data traffic requires energy efficient and fully transparent all-optical networks. The book is written by leaders in the field.
Nonlinear Fiber Optics
Author: Govind P. Agrawal
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 9780123695161
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 560
Book Description
Since the 3rd edition appeared, a fast evolution of the field has occurred. The fourth edition of this classic work provides an up-to-date account of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside optical fibers. The contents include such important topics as self- and cross-phase modulation, stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering, four-wave mixing, modulation instability, and optical solitons. Many new figures have been added to help illustrate the concepts discussed in the book. New to this edition are chapters on highly nonlinear fibers and and the novel nonlinear effects that have been observed in these fibers since 2000. Such a chapter should be of interest to people in the field of new wavelengths generation, which has potential application in medical diagnosis and treatments, spectroscopy, new wavelength lasers and light sources, etc. Continues to be industry bestseller providing unique source of comprehensive coverage on the subject of nonlinear fiber optics Fourth Edition is a completely up-to-date treatment of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside optical fibers Includes 2 NEW CHAPTERS on the properties of highly nonlinear fibers and their novel nonlinear effects
Publisher: Academic Press
ISBN: 9780123695161
Category : Science
Languages : en
Pages : 560
Book Description
Since the 3rd edition appeared, a fast evolution of the field has occurred. The fourth edition of this classic work provides an up-to-date account of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside optical fibers. The contents include such important topics as self- and cross-phase modulation, stimulated Raman and Brillouin scattering, four-wave mixing, modulation instability, and optical solitons. Many new figures have been added to help illustrate the concepts discussed in the book. New to this edition are chapters on highly nonlinear fibers and and the novel nonlinear effects that have been observed in these fibers since 2000. Such a chapter should be of interest to people in the field of new wavelengths generation, which has potential application in medical diagnosis and treatments, spectroscopy, new wavelength lasers and light sources, etc. Continues to be industry bestseller providing unique source of comprehensive coverage on the subject of nonlinear fiber optics Fourth Edition is a completely up-to-date treatment of the nonlinear phenomena occurring inside optical fibers Includes 2 NEW CHAPTERS on the properties of highly nonlinear fibers and their novel nonlinear effects
Nonlinear Optical Technology
Author: Elsa M. Garmire
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119508355
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 516
Book Description
NONLINEAR OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY Comprehensive resources describing today’s Nonlinear Optics (NLO) technology, its applications, and concepts behind the technology Taking shape at the unique interdisciplinary engineering school at Dartmouth College, Nonlinear Optical Technology explores the importance of NLO in terms of how it permeates a vast number of applications such as fiber optics, biomedicine, sensors (especially Internet of Things), microscopy, spectroscopy, and machining, under the assumption engineers of all stripes may end up working in technical areas impacted by Nonlinear Optics (NLO) and would benefit from learning about the field. Each section follows a set format, beginning by describing some exciting new technology made possible by NLO. This part is followed by a description of the background information necessary for students to understand the basic NLO concepts for that application. The author occasionally includes personal experiences as a pioneer in this field where it provides additional understanding and motivation. Each section ends with a description of other developments in technology that use the same NLO concept. Bringing together disparate topics in NLO under a straight-forward rubric based on applications, Nonlinear Optical Technology includes information on: Extending lasers (with NLO technology), covering new colors (harmonic generation, stimulated raman, and stimulated brillouin) and pulsed lasers (saturable absorption and ultra-high harmonic generation) Information technology, covering telecommunications (fiber optics NLO and photonic NLO) and data storage (NLO in nanostructures and photonic crystals) Sensors, covering distributed sensing (brillouin scattering in fibers) and localized sensors (NLO in photonics) Materials interaction, covering machining (nonlinear absorption), spectroscopy (four-wave mixing), and microscopy (two-photon absorption) Serving as a comprehensive standalone resource on the subject for engineers and students without requiring pre-knowledge of advanced concepts, Nonlinear Optical Technology is an essential resource for those in fields that intersect with NLO applications and integration, as well as anyone who wishes to self-teach NLO concepts in general.
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
ISBN: 1119508355
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 516
Book Description
NONLINEAR OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY Comprehensive resources describing today’s Nonlinear Optics (NLO) technology, its applications, and concepts behind the technology Taking shape at the unique interdisciplinary engineering school at Dartmouth College, Nonlinear Optical Technology explores the importance of NLO in terms of how it permeates a vast number of applications such as fiber optics, biomedicine, sensors (especially Internet of Things), microscopy, spectroscopy, and machining, under the assumption engineers of all stripes may end up working in technical areas impacted by Nonlinear Optics (NLO) and would benefit from learning about the field. Each section follows a set format, beginning by describing some exciting new technology made possible by NLO. This part is followed by a description of the background information necessary for students to understand the basic NLO concepts for that application. The author occasionally includes personal experiences as a pioneer in this field where it provides additional understanding and motivation. Each section ends with a description of other developments in technology that use the same NLO concept. Bringing together disparate topics in NLO under a straight-forward rubric based on applications, Nonlinear Optical Technology includes information on: Extending lasers (with NLO technology), covering new colors (harmonic generation, stimulated raman, and stimulated brillouin) and pulsed lasers (saturable absorption and ultra-high harmonic generation) Information technology, covering telecommunications (fiber optics NLO and photonic NLO) and data storage (NLO in nanostructures and photonic crystals) Sensors, covering distributed sensing (brillouin scattering in fibers) and localized sensors (NLO in photonics) Materials interaction, covering machining (nonlinear absorption), spectroscopy (four-wave mixing), and microscopy (two-photon absorption) Serving as a comprehensive standalone resource on the subject for engineers and students without requiring pre-knowledge of advanced concepts, Nonlinear Optical Technology is an essential resource for those in fields that intersect with NLO applications and integration, as well as anyone who wishes to self-teach NLO concepts in general.
Femtosecond Laser Shaping
Author: Marcos Dantus
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351649426
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 179
Book Description
Expensive, delicate, and difficult to operate, femtosecond lasers have already won two Nobel Prizes and created multi-billion dollar industries. As these lasers break out of laboratories for use in real-world large-scale applications, the number of people using them increases. This book provides a fresh perspective on femtosecond lasers, discussing how they are soon to become a universal light source, spanning any timescale and generating any wavelength of light. Starting from the basics of light itself, this book presents in an everyday manner, with clear illustrations and without formulas, what makes this class of lasers so versatile and the future of many more applications. Many of the subjects covered in this book are described in plain words for the first time.
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1351649426
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 179
Book Description
Expensive, delicate, and difficult to operate, femtosecond lasers have already won two Nobel Prizes and created multi-billion dollar industries. As these lasers break out of laboratories for use in real-world large-scale applications, the number of people using them increases. This book provides a fresh perspective on femtosecond lasers, discussing how they are soon to become a universal light source, spanning any timescale and generating any wavelength of light. Starting from the basics of light itself, this book presents in an everyday manner, with clear illustrations and without formulas, what makes this class of lasers so versatile and the future of many more applications. Many of the subjects covered in this book are described in plain words for the first time.