History of the Laser

By halfrunner

  • Albert Einstein suggested idea

    Albert Einstein suggested "simulated emission" when atoms produce light of one frequency. Light can be sent off mirrors into the atoms, producing light. With this information Albert Einstein figured a chain reaction could be triggered.

  • Maser was invented

    Charles Townes, Jim Gordon, Nicolay Basov, and Alexsandr Prokhorov created the Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.

  • Laser patent war

    Gould asked for a patent to the laser, but was denied because the board was in favor of the Schawlow and Townes optical maser. Called the "thirty year patent war"

  • First Working Laser

    Theodore Maiman creates the first working Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation (laser).

  • Nobel Prize in Physics

    Charles H. Townes, Nikolay Basov, and Aleksandr Prokhorov win a nobel prize for earliest lazer prototypes from 1954.

  • Nobel Prize in Physics

    Alfred Kastler wins nobel prize for his 1950 descriptions of the laser.