Lasers and coherent light

JAN 01, 1964

The following paper is based on a talk given by the author on October 5, 1963, at a symposium arranged as part of the sixth annual meeting of the Corporate Associates of the American Institute of Physics.

DOI: 10.1063/1.3051365

A. L. Schawlow

It is often possible to make a clear division between pure and applied physics, although at times the dividing line is indistinct. Seldom has the distinction been so completely blurred as it is in those areas of research related to optical masers, or lasers. In this field new advances in devices and techniques immediately make possible new experiments of fundamental importance. New scientific knowledge is very quickly translated into new devices.

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References

1. A. L. Schawlow, Scientific American, 204, No. 6, 52 (1961);
A. L. Schawlow, Scientific American, 209, No. 7, 34 (1963).
2. A. L. Schawlow, Contemporary Physics (in press).
3. B. A. Lengyel, Lasers, Wiley, New York (1962).
4. G. Birnbaum, Optical Masers, Academic, New York (1963).
5. H. W. Moos, Resource Letter on Masers: Microwave Through Optical, and on Optical Pumping, to be published in the American Journal of Physics (1964).
6. Applied Optics: Supplement of Optical Masers, O. S. Heavens, editor (1962).
7. Quantum Electronics Issue, J. R. Singer, editor, Proc. IEEE, 51, No. 1 (1963).

More about the authors

A. L. Schawlow, Stanford University.