Lessons learned: the laser from theory to practice

Jeff Hecht

doi:10.1117/12.799654

3 September 2008 Lessons learned: the laser from theory to practice

Jeff Hecht

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Proceedings Volume 7071, An Optical Believe It or Not: Key Lessons Learned; 70710J (2008) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.799654
Event: Optical Engineering + Applications, 2008, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

In September 1959, Theodore Maiman attended the first International Quantum Electronics Conference to present a paper describing an exceptionally compact microwave-emitting ruby maser he had developed at the Hughes Research Laboratories. On May 16, 1960 he succeeded in demonstrating the first working laser, also using ruby, a historic breakthrough that stunned others trying to develop a working laser. Maiman's success, described in my book Beam: The Race to Make the Laser (Oxford, 2005) teaches some important lessons in taking on challenging optical tasks.

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Jeff Hecht "Lessons learned: the laser from theory to practice", Proc. SPIE 7071, An Optical Believe It or Not: Key Lessons Learned, 70710J (3 September 2008); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.799654

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