Laser

In 1905, Albert Einstein published a paper discussing the photoelectric effect, where he introduced the concept of photons as quantum particles of light delivering energy in discrete chunks.

In 1917, Albert Einstein proposed the concept of stimulated emission, which is the process that makes lasers possible. He theorized that electrons could be stimulated to emit light of a particular wavelength, leading to the development of lasers nearly 40 years later.

On April 26, 1951, Charles Hard Townes conceived his maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) idea while sitting on a park bench in Washington, which later led to the development of lasers.

In 1952, the first Maser was invented by Charles Hard Townes, James P. Gordon, Herbert J. Zeiger, Nikolay Basov, and Aleksandr Prokhorov. It is a device that produces coherent electromagnetic waves through amplified stimulation, allowing for more directed and focused waves over longer distances.

In 1953, Townes and colleagues at Columbia University successfully demonstrated a working maser, a device that utilized stimulated emission for molecular spectroscopy. This achievement came two years after similar devices were independently invented by researchers at the University of Maryland and Lebedev Laboratories in Moscow.

In 1954, Charles Hard Townes, along with Herbert J. Zeiger and James P. Gordon, demonstrated the first maser at Columbia University. This device, based on Einstein's predictions, achieved the first amplification and generation of electromagnetic waves through stimulated emission.

On September 14, 1957, Townes sketches an early optical maser in his lab notebook.

Gordon Gould's notebook from 1957, where he coined the term LASER and outlined the key elements for its construction, became the center of a 30-year legal dispute over laser patent rights. The notary's stamp on the page dated November 13, 1957, established Gould's priority in conceiving laser technologies.

In December 1958, the laser was invented by Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow.

On March 24, 1959, Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow were granted a patent for the maser technology. The maser was utilized for amplifying radio signals and as a highly sensitive detector in space research.

On March 22, 1960, Townes and Schawlow, under Bell Labs, are granted US patent number 2,929,922 for the optical maser, now known as a laser.

In May 1960, physicist Theodore H. Maiman created the first laser using a synthetic ruby cylinder with silver-coated ends to serve as a Fabry-Perot resonator. This groundbreaking achievement marked the birth of laser technology.

In October 1961, Elias Snitzer from American Optical Co. reports the first successful operation of a neodymium glass (Nd:glass) laser, marking a significant milestone in laser technology.

In December 1961, Dr. Charles J. Campbell and Charles J. Koester perform the first medical treatment using a laser on a human patient at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan. They use an American Optical ruby laser to destroy a retinal tumor, pioneering the use of lasers in medical procedures.

In 1962, Fred J. McClung and Hellwarth demonstrated the Q-switching technique, which generated peak powers 100 times greater than ordinary ruby lasers. This technique was crucial for applications like welding springs for watches.

In 1963, Herbert Kroemer and the team of Rudolf Kazarinov and Zhores Alferov independently proposed the idea of building semiconductor lasers from heterostructure devices. This groundbreaking work eventually led to Kroemer and Alferov being awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 2000.

In 1964, Charles Townes was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his groundbreaking contributions to quantum electronics, which formed the basis for the development of the maser and laser principles.

In February 1968, Theodore Maiman and other laser pioneers established the Laser Industry Association in California, which later evolved into the Laser Institute of America in 1972. This organization played a key role in promoting the development and adoption of laser technology.

Boeing became the first company to utilize lasers in industry for cutting 'hard' materials like titanium, hastelloy, and ceramic, following a paper written by three employees discussing the capabilities of laser cutting.

Arthur Ashkin of Bell Labs invented optical trapping in 1970, a process where atoms are trapped by laser light. This breakthrough led to the development of optical tweezing and trapping, revolutionizing physics and biology.

Charles H. Henry invented the quantum well laser in 1972, which required significantly less current to reach lasing threshold compared to conventional diode lasers. This innovation paved the way for more efficient laser technology.

In 1975, engineers at Laser Diode Labs Inc. in Metuchen, N.J., developed the first commercial continuous-wave semiconductor laser operating at room temperature. This advancement enabled the transmission of telephone conversations using laser technology.

John M.J. Madey and his group at Stanford University demonstrated the first free-electron laser (FEL) in 1976. FELs utilize a beam of electrons accelerated to near light speed to produce coherent radiation, avoiding material damage and thermal issues seen in traditional lasers.

On October 11, 1977, Gordon Gould was issued a patent for optical pumping, a technique utilized in approximately 80% of lasers. This patent marked a significant advancement in laser technology.

In 1981, Arthur Schawlow was honored with the Nobel Prize for his significant contributions to the advancement of laser spectroscopy. His work played a crucial role in the development of laser technology.

In 1985, lasers were utilized for manipulating atoms, leading to a significant advancement in quantum mechanics research. This breakthrough continued to shape the field throughout the 80s and 90s.

In 1987, New York City ophthalmologist Steven Trokel performed the first laser surgery on a patient's eyes by making a connection to the cornea.

In 1996, the first Excimer laser specifically designed for ophthalmic refractive use was approved in the United States after a decade of perfecting equipment and techniques for laser eye surgery.

In January 1997, Shuji Nakamura, Steven P. DenBaars, and James S. Speck at the University of California, Santa Barbara, announced the creation of a gallium-nitride (GaN) laser that emits bright blue-violet light in pulsed operation.

In 2004, Ozdal Boyraz and Bahram Jalali of the University of California, Los Angeles demonstrated electronic switching in a Raman laser for the first time. The pure-silicon Raman laser operated at room temperature with 2.5-W peak output power, allowing direct modulation for data transmission.

In September 2006, John Bowers and colleagues at the University of California, Santa Barbara, along with Mario Paniccia from Intel Corp., announce the creation of the first electrically powered hybrid silicon laser using standard silicon manufacturing processes. This innovation could pave the way for cost-effective, high-speed optical data transmission in future computer systems.

In August 2007, John Bowers and his doctoral student Brian Koch reveal the development of the first mode-locked silicon evanescent laser. This advancement offers a novel approach to integrating optical and electronic functions on a single chip, opening up possibilities for innovative integrated circuits.

On May 29, 2009, the National Ignition Facility (NIF) at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California, the largest and highest-energy laser in the world, was dedicated. The facility began firing all 192 of its laser beams onto targets shortly after the dedication.

On March 31, 2010, Rainer Blatt, Piet O. Schmidt, and their team at the University of Innsbruck in Austria showcased a single-atom laser with and without threshold behavior. By adjusting the strength of atom-light field coupling, they demonstrated the operation of the laser at the quantum level.

In 2012, Harvard University researchers Malte Gather and Seok Hyun Yun showcased a living laser by genetically modifying cells to produce green fluorescent protein (GFP) found in jellyfish. This breakthrough, published in the June issue of Nature Photonics, allowed the cell to lase without damage, paving the way for medical and biophotonic applications.

Dr. Charles Hard Townes, known for his work on stimulated emission that led to the creation of lasers and the advancement of the photonics industry, passed away at the age of 99.

Lockheed Martin announces the delivery of a world record-setting 60kW laser to the U.S. Army.

In 2019, NASA is planning to launch missions to test the use of lasers in space communications. The goal is to increase data transmission rates significantly compared to traditional radio methods.

High-power laser applications play a crucial role in modern industry, with numerous applications that are essential for various sectors.

Kramer Akli has been elected as a 2024 Optica Fellow, recognizing his significant contributions in the field of laser-driven high-energy.

X-ray lasers enable scientists to study rapid chemical reactions and atomic behavior in real-time.