The Laser

Abstract

The laser is an oscillator of light using an amplification process based on stimulated emission from atoms in an optical resonator. Laser light has a narrow spectral width and a high degree of spatial coherence. Laser beams are highly directional and can be focused into a tiny spot. Pulsed lasers produce ultrashort light pulses with ultrahigh peak power. Since its invention in 1960, the laser has enabled many scientific discoveries and has been at the core of a plethora of light-based technologies. It is truly a light fantastic.

Publication Date

1-1-2016

Publication Title

Optics in Our Time

Number of Pages

71-85

Document Type

Article; Book Chapter

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-31903-2_4

Socpus ID

85029127740 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85029127740

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