Laser acronyms explained

This is a list of acronyms and other initialisms used in laser physics and laser applications.

A

• AOM – acousto-optic modulator
• AOPDF – acousto-optic programmable dispersive filter
• APD – avalanche photodiode
• APM – additive-pulse mode locking
• ASE – amplified spontaneous emission
• ATD – above-threshold dissociation
• ATI – above-threshold ionization
• AWG – arrayed waveguide grating

B

• BPP – beam parameter product

C

• CD-ROM – compact disc read-only memory
  • CEO – carrier-envelope offset CEP – carrier-envelope phase
• CPA – chirped-pulse amplification
• CRAB – complete reconstruction of attosecond bursts
• CW – continuous wave
• CWDM – coarse wavelength-division multiplexing

D

• DBR – distributed Bragg reflector
• DCM – dispersion-compensation module or double-chirped mirror
• DFB laser – distributed feedback laser
• DFG – difference-frequency generation
• DIAL – differential absorption LIDAR
  • DOG – double optical gating DOS – density of states
• DPSS – diode-pumped solid-state (laser)
• DWDM – dense wavelength-division multiplexing

E

• ECDL – external-cavity diode laser
  • EDC – electronic dispersion compensation EDFA – erbium-doped fiber amplifier
• Er:YAG – erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet, Er:Y₃Al₅O₁₂
• EOM – electro-optic modulator

F

• FEL – free electron laser
  • FREAG – frequency-resolved electro-absorption gating FROG – frequency-resolved optical gating
  • FROG-CRAB – frequency-resolved optical gating for complete reconstruction of attosecond bursts FWM – four-wave mixing
• FP – Fabry–Perot laser

G

• GRENOUILLE – grating-eliminated no-nonsense observation of ultrafast incident laser light e-fields

H

• HeNe – helium–neon laser
• HHG – high-harmonic generation

I

• IR – infrared

K

• KLM – Kerr-lens modelocking

L

• LASEK – laser-assisted sub-epithelial keratectomy
• LASER – light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation^[1]
• LASIK – laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (eye surgery)
• LBO – lithium triborate
• LiDAR – light detection and ranging
• LLLT – low-level laser therapy

M

• MASER – microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation
• MIIPS – multiphoton intrapulse interference phase scan
• MOPA – master oscillator power amplifier

N

• Nd:YAG – neodymium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet, Nd:Y₃Al₅O₁₂
• Nd:YCOB – neodymium-doped YCOB, YCa₄O(BO₃)₃

O

• OC – output coupler
• OPO – optical parametric oscillator
• OPA – optical parametric amplifier / optical parametric amplification

P

• PI – population inversion

R

• RABBIT or RABBITT – reconstruction of attosecond beating by interference of two-photon transitions
• REMPI – resonance-enhanced multiphoton ionization

S

• SHG – second-harmonic generation
• SLM – single longitudinal mode
• SPIDER – spectral phase interferometry for direct electric-field reconstruction
• SPM – self-phase modulation

T

• TE – transverse electric mode
• TEA – transverse electrical discharge in gas at atmospheric pressure
• TEM – transverse electromagnetic mode
• THG – third-harmonic generation
• Ti:Sapph – Ti-sapphire laser
• TM – transverse magnetic mode

U

• UV – ultraviolet

V

• VCSEL – vertical cavity surface-emitting laser
• VECSEL – vertical external cavity surface-emitting laser

W

• WDM – wavelength-division multiplexing

X

• XPM – cross-phase modulation
• XPW – cross-polarized wave generation

Y

• YAG – yttrium aluminium garnet, Y₃Al₅O₁₂

Notes and References

1. Book: Taylor, Nick . Laser: The Inventor, The Nobel Laureate, and The Thirty-Year Patent War . Simon & Schuster . 2000 . 978-0684835150.