Laser: 50 Years of Discoveries

“The brief foreword by Charles Townes, one of the laser's inventors, contains delightful descriptions of some early reactions to the development of the laser and its maser predecessor. The writing is sophisticated yet at a popular science level. Anyone who has completed an introductory modern physics course should be able to read and enjoy the book. ” Choice This unique book provides an overview of the principle and applications of lasers enriched with numerous illustrations. Being over fifty years old, lasers continue to amaze us. Their performance characteristics are constantly reaching new limits, and the scope of their applications continues to expand. Yet, it took years of effort by teams of physicists to transform the fundamental notions of Einstein into the first experimental beam of laser light. And history is still going on as fundamental research is now triggered by its remarkable properties. This book addresses every aspects of laser light, from its fundamental principles to its industrial applications, at a level particularly suited for high school teachers, students, and anybody curious about science and technology.