This twovolume book provides an enriching insight into the laser covering different types of lasers the basic science behind the technology their role at the cuttingedge of current scientific research and their wideranging applications. With just high school physics as a prerequisite and favoring qualitative yet scientifically sound explanations over highlevel mathematics this book is aimed at a broad spectrum of readers in physics chemistry engineering medicine and biology. Its engaging and lucid presentation is enhanced with plenty of illustrations making the world of the laser accessible to undergraduate students in the sciences and any other inquisitive readers with high school physics under their belts.