60 years of the Laser, May 16th, 1960

Ted Maiman, and his assistant, Irnee d’Haenens, using a crystal of pink ruby. They observed a large decrease in the ruby’s fluorescence lifetime after the voltage increased from the flashlamp. This change was the catalyst for stimulated emission. The laser light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation – was born. Then came James Bond, and then Star Wars, right?

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