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Happy 50th Birthday To Laser Technology
Light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (or more commonly known as Laser) was invented on 16 May 1960, and this year marks the 50th anniversary of Theodore Maiman’s first functional development.
In 1917, Albert Einstein was the first to come up with theories for laser, based on On the Quantum Theory of Radiation, a re-derivation of Max Planck’s law of radiation.
Theodore Maiman was credited for the development of the first working laser at Hughes Research Labs in 1960. It was initially intended for military applications such as weapons guidance and radar and later, the technology was introduced to the consumer market like concert visuals, optical disc players, surgery and even tattoo removal.
It may still be a long time before we see this technology being incorporated for use in laser guns or laser swords (like those we see in sci-fi movies). Or perhaps such laser weapons could already be available secretly in those underground laboratories. But that's up to everyone's opinion.
Regardless, it is great to see the technology has come this far. Happy 50th Birthday Laser!
Source: eWeek
