The history of lasers
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The first lasers which were invented or by whom?
We know that the lasers play an important role in our life, but do we really know which were the first lasers which were invented or by whom? In this lens we will talk a little about these issues.
The first time when the quantum concept was introduced in spectroscopy was in 1913 by Niels Bohr. Using this he explained the simplest of atoms: the hydrogen atom.
Einstein's fundamental article which laid the theoretical foundation to make laser possible appeared in 1917 in the Physikalische Zeitschrift magazine. Here he explains the concepts of spontaneous and stimulated emission and absorption. This work laid the foundation for achieving the first MASERs (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated emission of Radiation).
The first time when the quantum concept was introduced in spectroscopy was in 1913 by Niels Bohr. Using this he explained the simplest of atoms: the hydrogen atom.
Einstein's fundamental article which laid the theoretical foundation to make laser possible appeared in 1917 in the Physikalische Zeitschrift magazine. Here he explains the concepts of spontaneous and stimulated emission and absorption. This work laid the foundation for achieving the first MASERs (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated emission of Radiation).
In 1954 the first maser oscillator with NH3 (ammonia) was developed , by Townes, Gordon and Zeiger. In this device, the active medium was formed by ammoniac vapors. An oscillator was obtained, which had a frequency of 24 GHz (microwaves).
In 1957, Townes proposed to develop one maser, which would use a Fabry-Perot interferometer as a resonator. In this case, the mirrors of the interferometer were placed at a certain distance one to another, distance which was corresponding to the length of the active medium.
In the same period, Bloembergen was developing the first maser amplifier, which was functioning in the field of millimeter waves.
The first laser oscillator with a ruby crystal (%u03BB=694.3 nm) as active medium, was developed in 1960 by Maiman. In the same year, the first gas laser was developed by Javan, Bennet and Herriot. A quartz tube (which had a length of 100 cm and a diameter of 1.5 cm) was used for this laser.
The tube was filled with a mixture of He-Ne (helium-neon). They were using two plane mirrors as resonators and a radiofrequency field of 27 MHz . This way they obtained a gas discharge over a 80 cm length.
In 1957, Townes proposed to develop one maser, which would use a Fabry-Perot interferometer as a resonator. In this case, the mirrors of the interferometer were placed at a certain distance one to another, distance which was corresponding to the length of the active medium.
In the same period, Bloembergen was developing the first maser amplifier, which was functioning in the field of millimeter waves.
The first laser oscillator with a ruby crystal (%u03BB=694.3 nm) as active medium, was developed in 1960 by Maiman. In the same year, the first gas laser was developed by Javan, Bennet and Herriot. A quartz tube (which had a length of 100 cm and a diameter of 1.5 cm) was used for this laser.
The tube was filled with a mixture of He-Ne (helium-neon). They were using two plane mirrors as resonators and a radiofrequency field of 27 MHz . This way they obtained a gas discharge over a 80 cm length.
In 1961 the same type of laser was developed by White and Ridgen, but the difference between this one and its predecessor was the wavelength of the emitted radiation(which was 632.8 nm, in the visible spectrum).
The first optical dye lasers were developed by Schafer and Sorokin.
Beginning with 1970, the dye-based, tunable lasers with continuous emission became commonly used in many areas. After this moment, an exponential development of the laser physics and technical methods of fabrication occurred. The most used type of lasers, the laser diodes, also appeared on the seventh decade of the 20th century, being invented by Robert Hall (the first laser diode) and Nick Holonyak (first visible wavelength laser diode). Once numerous types of lasers were developed, their areas of applications also extended. Today, they are used in many fields, from laser surgery to telecommunications.
The first optical dye lasers were developed by Schafer and Sorokin.
Beginning with 1970, the dye-based, tunable lasers with continuous emission became commonly used in many areas. After this moment, an exponential development of the laser physics and technical methods of fabrication occurred. The most used type of lasers, the laser diodes, also appeared on the seventh decade of the 20th century, being invented by Robert Hall (the first laser diode) and Nick Holonyak (first visible wavelength laser diode). Once numerous types of lasers were developed, their areas of applications also extended. Today, they are used in many fields, from laser surgery to telecommunications.
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