In the recent decades, laser cooling or optical refrigeration-a physical process by which a system loses its thermal energy as a result of interaction with laser light-has garnered a great deal of scientific interest due to the importance of its applications. Optical solid-state coolers are one such application. They are free from liquids as well as moving parts that generate vibrations and introduce noise to sensors and other devices. They are based on reliable laser diode pump systems. Laser cooling can also be used to mitigate heat generation in high-power lasers.

This book compiles and details cutting-edge research in laser cooling done by various scientific teams all over the world that are currently revolutionizing optical refrigerating technology. It includes recent results on laser cooling by redistribution of radiation in dense gas mixtures, three conceptually different approaches to laser cooling of solids such as cooling with anti-Stokes fluorescence, Brillouin cooling, and Raman cooling. It also discusses crystal growth and glass production for laser cooling applications. This book will appeal to anyone involved in laser physics, solid-state physics, low-temperature physics or cryogenics, materials research, development of temperature sensors, or infrared detectors.

"This book provides a timely and useful collection of articles on optical refrigeration science that complements the earlier books on this subject. It covers a wide range of topics, including laser cooling in dense gases, radiation-balanced lasers, novel cooling methods, and laser cooling in semiconductors. It should serve as a valuable reference for the scientists and graduate students studying this emerging interdisciplinary field." -Prof. Mansoor Sheik-Bahae, The University of New Mexico, USA "This book presents a significant overview of the entire field of laser cooling of bulk matter, with many new results and recent novel directions of investigation. It is written by a large number of well-qualified experts, covering a broad range of ideas, particularly with clear figures and well-organized tables. It would make an excellent reference for spectroscopists, condensed matter physicists, crystallographers, and laser scientists." -Prof. Carl E. Mungan, United States Naval Academy, USA