斯维尔特所著《激光原理》是一部介绍激光基本原理的经典著作。这是第五版，和原来的版本一脉相承，对原来的版本做了必要的补充和修订，篇幅也扩大了不少。基于现代理论的发展，该书对于激光器的三大组成部分，即激活物质、泵浦系统与谐振腔的基本概念和基本理论的表述给出了许多更新；大大增加了对各类激光器，特别是最新发展起来的一些激光器的详细的介绍；进一步深入地阐述了激光束的各种特性和各种可能的变换方法。

List of Examples

1. Introductory Concepts

 1.1. Spontaneous and Stimulated Emission, Absorption

 1.2. The Laser Idea

 1.3. Pumping Schemes

 1.4. Properties of Laser Beams

1.4.1. Monochromaticity

i.4.2. Coherence

1.4.3. Directionality

1.4.4. Brightness

1.4.5. Short Time Duration

 1.5. Types of Lasers

 1.6. Organization of the Book

 Problems

2. Interaction of Radiation with Atoms and Ions

 2.1. Introduction

 2.2. Summary of Blackbody Radiation Theory

2.2.1. Modes of a Rectangular Cavity

2.2.2. The Rayleigh-Jeans and Planck Radiation Formula

2.2.3. Planek's Hypothesis and Field Quantizatioo

 2.3. Spontaneous Emission

2.3.1. Semiclassieal Approach

2.3.2. Quantum Electrodynamies Approach

2.3.3. Allowed and Forbidden Transitions

 2.4. Absorption and Stimulated Emission

2.4.1. Rates of Absorption and Stimulated Emission

2.4.2. Allowed and Forbidden Transitions

2.4.3. Transition Cross Section, Absorption and Gain Coefficient

2.4.4. Einstein Thermodynamic Treatment

 2.5. Line Broadening Mechanisms

2.5.1. Homogeneous Broadening

2.5.2. lnhomogeneous Broadening

2.5.3. Concluding Remarks

 2.6. Nonradiative Decay and Energy Transfer

2.6.1. Mechanisms of Nonradiative Decay

2.6.2. Combined Effects of Radiative and Nonradiative Processes

 2.7. Degenerate or Strongly Coupled Levels

2.7.1. Degenerate Levels

2.7.2. Strongly Coupled Levels

 2.8. Saturation

2.8.1. Saturation of Absorption: Homogeneous Line

2.8.2. Gain Saturation: Homogeneous Line

2.8.3. Inhomogeneously Broadened Line

 2.9. Decay of an Optically Dense Medium

2.9.1. Radiation Trapping

2.9.2. Amplified Spontaneous Emission

 2.10. Concluding Remarks

 Problems

 References

3. Energy Levels, Radiative and Nonradiative Transitions in Molecules and Semiconductors

 3.1. Molecules

3.I.I. Energy Levels

3.1.2. Level Occupation at Thermal Equilibrium

3.1.3. Stimulated Transitions

3.1.4. Radiative and Nonradiative Decay

 3.2. Bulk Semiconductors

3.2.1. Electronic States

3.2.2. Density of States

3.2.3. Level Occupation at Thermal Equilibrium

3.2.4. Stimulated Transitions

3.2.5. Absorption and Gain Coefficients

3.2.6. Spontaneous Emission and Nonradiative Decay

3.2.7. Concluding Remarks

 3.3. Semiconductor Quantum Wells

3.3.1. Electronic States

3.3.2. Density of States

……