ABSTRACT
This chapter concentrate on the dispersive term of generalized multiple-prism arrays since these arrays are widely used in optics in a variety of optics and quantum optics applications such as the following: laser intracavity beam expanders, in narrow-linewidth tunable laser oscillators; extracavity beam expanders; laser pulse compressors, in femtosecond and ultrafast pulse lasers; and dispersive elements in a variety of optical instruments such as spectrometers. Angular dispersion is an important quantity in optics that describes the ability for an optical element, such as a diffraction grating or prism, to geometrically spread a beam of light as a function of wavelength. The evaluation of intracavity dispersion in tunable laser oscillators incorporating multiple-prism beam expanders requires the assessment of the double-pass, or return-pass, dispersion. For spectrophotometers and wavelength meters based on dispersive elements, such as diffraction gratings and prism arrays, the dispersion should be as large as possible since that enables a higher wavelength spatial resolution.
