# Laser acronyms

This is a list of acronyms and other initialisms used in laser physics and laser applications.
* A
* B
* C
* D
* E
* F
* G
* H
* I
* K
* L
* M
* N
* O
* P
* R
* S
* T
* U
* V
* W
* X
* Y

## 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:Y$_3$Al$_5$O$_{12}$
* 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:Y$_3$Al$_5$O$_{12}$
* Nd:YCOB – neodymium-doped YCOB, YCa$_4$O(BO$_3$)$_3$

## 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, Y$_3$Al$_5$O$_{12}$
* YAM – yttrium aluminium monoclinic
* YAP – yttrium aluminium perovskite