Where can I find detailed information about ground lighting systems exist in aviation?
I know you said you didn't want to just be told what they meant, however in completeness of answering the question here are some abbreviations:


MALSR: Medium-intensity Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
MALSF: Medium-intensity Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing lights
SALS: Short Approach Lighting System
SSALS: Simplified Short Approach Lighting System
SSALR: Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with Runway Alignment Indicator Lights
SSALF: Simplified Short Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights
ODALS: Omnidirectional Approach Lighting System
ALSF-1: Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights configuration 1
ALSF-2: Approach Lighting System with Sequenced Flashing Lights configuration 2
CALVERT I/ICAO-1 HIALS: ICAO-compliant configuration 1 High Intensity Approach Lighting System
CALVERT II/ICAO-2 HIALS: ICAO-compliant configuration 2 High Intensity Approach Lighting System
LDIN: Lead-in lighting
REIL: Runway End Identification Lights
RAIL: Runway Alignment Indicator Lights


I found them here on wikipedia which has a nice entry on the subject