Discover

Share

Download

Features

/

Article

Laser research

NOV 01, 1975

Exchange visits have given us a good view of Soviet work on laser fusion, nonlinear optics, laser spectroscopy, isotope separation and the development of new lasers—and enhanced the prospects for further cooperation.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3069205

H. Richard Leuchtag

An impressive amount of research is carried out in the Soviet Union in the areas of laser physics and quantum electronics. PHYSICS TODAY asked a number of leading US physicists who have worked closely with the Soviets in these fields to give us their impressions of this work. They are Michael Feld, an associate professor of physics at MIT; Aram Mooradian, the leader, and Paul Kelley, the associate leader of the Quantum Electronics Group at the MIT Lincoln Laboratory; Keith Boyer, division leader for laser fusion at Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory, and Ali Javan, a professor of physics at MIT and an inventor of the helium–neon laser.

This article is only available in PDF format

More about the authors

H. Richard Leuchtag, Associate Editor of PHYSICS TODAY.

© 1975 American Institute of Physics

Physics Today is looking for a Senior Editor. Apply Now.

Related content

Features

/

Article

Black holes aren’t black

A half century after the discovery of Hawking radiation, we are still dealing with the quantum puzzle it exposed.

March 26, 2026 12:23 PM

Features

/

Article

How the twist of a molecule affects electron spin

Since the discovery was first reported in 1999, researchers have uncovered many aspects of the chiral-induced spin selectivity effect, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

March 11, 2026 09:55 AM

Features

/

Article

Quantum-based standards for pressure measurements

Metrologists are using fundamental physics to define units of measure. Now NIST has developed new quantum sensors to measure and realize the pascal.

March 06, 2026 03:02 PM

Features

/

Article

Magnetic skyrmions: A new frontier for quantum computing

Nanoscale, topologically protected whirlpools of spins have the potential to move from applications in spintronics into quantum science.

February 11, 2026 03:04 PM

This Content Appeared In

Volume 28, Number 11

Get PT newsletters in your inbox

PT The Week in Physics

A collection of PT's content from the previous week delivered every Monday.

One email per week

PT New Issue Alert

Be notified about the new issue with links to highlights and the full TOC.

One email per month

PT Webinars & White Papers

The latest webinars, white papers and other informational resources.

1 to 2 emails per week