Discover
/
Article

Laser applications

JUL 01, 1967
Unique properties have made the laser an important scientific tool in applications ranging from studies of plasma light scattering and of nonlinear phenomena to the development of instruments for photography and interferometry.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3034397

Theodore H. Maiman

WHEN THE LASER was developed in mid‐1960, it was hailed—primarily by science writers—as the solution to problems ranging from such commonplaces as television transmission and metal drilling to science‐fiction tools like the instant death ray. This effort to glamorize the laser and portray it in terms of commercial and industrial application continues to occupy the bulk of the attention focused on it today. Such publicity is somewhat misleading, but the laser’s role as a scientific tool is now well established.

More about the Authors

Theodore H. Maiman. Korad Corp..

This Content Appeared In
pt-cover_1967_07.jpeg

Volume 20, Number 7

Related content
/
Article
Technical knowledge and skills are only some of the considerations that managers have when hiring physical scientists. Soft skills, in particular communication, are also high on the list.
/
Article
Professional societies can foster a sense of belonging and offer early-career scientists opportunities to give back to their community.
/
Article
Interviews offer a glimpse of how physicists get into—and thrive in—myriad nonacademic careers.
/
Article
Research exchanges between US and Soviet scientists during the second half of the 20th century may be instructive for navigating today’s debates on scientific collaboration.
/
Article
The Eisenhower administration dismissed the director of the National Bureau of Standards in 1953. Suspecting political interference with the agency’s research, scientists fought back—and won.
/
Article
Alternative undergraduate physics courses expand access to students and address socioeconomic barriers that prevent many of them from entering physics and engineering fields. The courses also help all students develop quantitative skills.

Get PT in your inbox

Physics Today - The Week in Physics

The Week in Physics" is likely a reference to the regular updates or summaries of new physics research, such as those found in publications like Physics Today from AIP Publishing or on news aggregators like Phys.org.

Physics Today - Table of Contents
Physics Today - Whitepapers & Webinars
By signing up you agree to allow AIP to send you email newsletters. You further agree to our privacy policy and terms of service.