The first part of this book overviews the physics of lasers and describes some of the more common types of lasers and their applications.

Applications of lasers include CD/DVD players, laser printers and fiber optic communication devices. Part II of this book describes the phenomenon of Bose-Einstein condensation. The experimental techniques used to create a Bose-Einstein condensate provide an interesting and unconventional application of lasers; that is, the cooling and confinement of a dilute gas at very low temperature.

PrefaceAcknowledgementsAuthor biographyPart I LasersThe basic physics of lasersTypes of lasers I: conventional lasersTypes of lasers II: semiconducting lasersLaser applicationsPart II Bose-Einstein condensatesFermions and bosonsCooling techniquesThe Bose-Einstein condensate