Laser physics and laser techniques

The Final Report summarizes accomplishments over the 3-year period in several different areas of Laser Physics and Laser Techniques, including ultrafast optical measurements using tunable laser-induced gratings; development of a new subpicosecond photodetector technique; generation of tunable picosecond pulses in the IR using parametric mode locking; new developments in laser resonators and laser mode computations; experimental progress toward measuring an important and fundamental excess spontaneous emission or excess quantum noise mechanism in laser oscillators; and the development of new techniques for laser beam characterization and laser beam measurement.