A comprehensive, up-to-date review of the physics and applications of a
major class of laser, the most important example of which is the copper
vapour laser. A collection of 50 papers written by the world's leaders
in the field. Papers cover: the early history of pulsed metal vapour
lasters; the plasma kinetics and excitation mechanisms of self
terminating and recombination metal vapour lasers; beam quality issues
for applications; frequency harmonic generation for mid-UV applications;
high-precision processing of metals, ceramics, glasses and plastics
using metal vapour lasers; applications in medicine, including oncology
and dermatology; applications in science such as spectroscopy and mass
spectrometry. A practical source of information on the physics,
engineering and applications of metal vapour lasers.
Audience: scientists, teachers and graduate researchers working in the
fields of gas lasers, laser optics, gas discharges, optoelectronics and
laser applications in industry, science and medicine