Laser acronyms

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
 * ESA – excited state absorption

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
 * 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
 * OPCPA – optical parametric chirped pulse 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
 * YAM – yttrium aluminium monoclinic
 * YAP – yttrium aluminium perovskite