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Background to Laser Design and General Applications

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Laser Material Processing

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Abstract

The first part of this chapter briefly describes the basic principles of the physics and the construction of a laser. The second part of the chapter gives a sketch of the numerous ways in which the laser can be used other than as a material processing tool. The whole chapter is aimed at providing a review of the overall state of laser science and applications, which should be useful for an engineer of laser material processing. There are several textbooks available on laser physics which deal with the subject in detail [1–5].

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Jell-O® is a registered trademark of Kraft Foods Holdings Inc., Three Lakes Drive, Northfield, Illinois, 60093, USA. www.kraftfoods.com

  2. 2.

    Xerox® is a registered trademark of the Xerox Corporation. www.xerox.com

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Greenacre, Old Wimpole Road, SG8 0BX, Arrington, Herts, UK

    William M. Steen

  2. G.G. Brown Laboratory Center for Laser-aided Intelligent Manufacturing, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Material Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, College of Engineering, 2350 Hayward Street, 48109-2125, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Jyotirmoy Mazumder

Authors
  1. William M. Steen
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  2. Jyotirmoy Mazumder
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Steen, W., Mazumder, J. (2010). Background to Laser Design and General Applications. In: Laser Material Processing. Springer, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-062-5_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-84996-062-5_2

  • Publisher Name: Springer, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-84996-061-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-84996-062-5

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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