Laser acronyms

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by editing the page to add missing items, with references to reliable sources.

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 ^{[citation needed]}
• CEP – carrier-envelope phase
• CPA – chirped-pulse amplification
• CRAB – complete reconstruction of attosecond bursts^{[citation needed]}
• CW – continuous wave
• CWDM – coarse wavelength-division multiplexing

D

• DBR – distributed Bragg reflector
• DCM – dispersion-compensation module ^{[citation needed]} or double-chirped mirror
• DFB laser – distributed feedback laser
• DFG – difference-frequency generation
• DIAL – differential absorption LIDAR
• DOG – double optical gating ^{[citation needed]}
• 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 ^{[citation needed]}
• EDFA – erbium-doped fiber amplifier
• Er:YAG – erbium-doped yttrium aluminium garnet, Er:Y₃Al₅O₁₂
• EOM – electro-optic modulator
• ESA – excited state absorption ^{[citation needed]}

F

• FEL – free electron laser
• FREAG – frequency-resolved electro-absorption gating ^{[citation needed]}
• FROG – frequency-resolved optical gating
• FROG-CRAB – frequency-resolved optical gating for complete reconstruction of attosecond bursts ^{[citation needed]}
• 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
• OPCPA – optical parametric chirped pulse amplification ^{[citation needed]}

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 ^{[citation needed]}
• YAP – yttrium aluminium perovskite ^{[citation needed]}

References

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