Comprehensive in its scope and practical in its approach, this guide aims to help end users quickly and easily choose the laser best suited to their needs. Starting with a concise introduction to the fundamentals of lasers and optics, this book offers practical, up-to-date information on all major types of lasers for applications ranging from science, engineering, and manufacturing to medicine and entertainment. The second edition contains all-new chapters on X-ray lasers, free-electron lasers, fiber lasers, and semiconductor lasers. For easy reference, chapters on each laser share a common structure that includes - basic physics and optics, internal workings, beam characteristics and efficiency, operating requirements, reliability and maintenance, safety considerations and applications and commercial availability.