50th Anniversary of the First Laser
Written by Tom Nugent on Sunday, May 16th, 2010
Daniel Terdiman’s CNET blog post, “The laser turns 50” highlights the history of the laser and celebrates the fact that Sunday, May 16th is the 50th anniversary of the demonstration of the first working laser.
This entire year, there are various events to celebrate the 50th anniversary as part of LaserFest. Check it out to learn about the many ways lasers have changed the world in the last 50 years. And come back here from time to time to see a few ways that lasers will change the world in the next 50 years!
I was going to Hartnell College in 1960. As I recall, lasing was a unique property of ruby crystals. A couple of years later some SOB working for an adjacent project hit me with a ruby laser while I was at work under Hesse Hall (Berkeley). I survived undamaged.
The world has changed. Lasing is not so unique. The more powerful lasers are vitreous or gaseous. In the 90’s, I was injured while driving to work by a hopped up land leveling laser. It knocked some gel off the retina of my right eye.
Say hello to Dave.
Bob