The History of the Laser (Hardcover)

by Mario Bertolotti (Author)
Key Phrases: solid state maser, ammonia maser, physics chair, United States, Bell Laboratories, New York (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Bertolotti's entertaining book gives a good sense of the long history of the development of ideas which finally resulted in the laser.
E-Streams, Volume 8, no. 9, 2005

Bertolottis entertaining book gives a good sense of the long history of the development of ideas which finally resulted in the laser.
E-Streams, Volume 8, no. 9, 2005

This rather scholarly work-much more than a mere history of the laser-sets out to cover a huge canvas. The origins of the science of optics, Newtonian mechanics, the wave theory of light, statistical mechanics, the old quantum theory, quantum mechanics, atomic physics and spectroscopy are all traced via detailed accounts of the life histories of the main protagonists. …readers familiar with the underlying science will find the glimpses into the lives of the hundred or more personalities truly fascinating. The book also contains a fine gallery of photographs of the scientists whose work contributed to the history and prehistory of the laser.
-Collin Webb, Times Higher Education Supplement

This rather scholarly work-much more than a mere history of the laser-sets out to cover a huge canvas. The origins of the science of optics, Newtonian mechanics, the wave theory of light, statistical mechanics, the old quantum theory, quantum mechanics, atomic physics and spectroscopy are all traced via detailed accounts of the life histories of the main protagonists. …readers familiar with the underlying science will find the glimpses into the lives of the hundred or more personalities truly fascinating. The book also contains a fine gallery of photographs of the scientists whose work contributed to the history and prehistory of the laser.
-Collin Webb, Times Higher Education Supplement

Product Description
Synopsis
Since the invention of the first working laser in 1960, development of these devices has progressed at an unprecedented rate, to the extent that the laser is now a common part of everyday life, from the semiconductor laser used in CD players and telecommunication systems to the high power eximer lasers used in manufacturing processes.

This book traces the history of the laser, from the first theoretical predictions of stimulated emission made in the 1920s, through the experimental development of masers and lasers in the 50s and 60s, to the advanced applications of lasers in the present day. Along the way it tells the fascinating and at times controversial story of the people behind the discoveries. Written in a style suitable for the general public, it will be of interest to those working within the laser community, and to anyone with an interest in the history of science.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 316 pages
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis; 1 edition (October 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0750309113
• ISBN-13: 978-0750309110
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,804,490 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars many types and uses, April 3, 2005

By	W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In the 1960s, when the first lasers were invented, they were huge, fragile devices. Taking up a large lab bench or optical table, and enclosed in clumsy glass tubes. Yet nowadays, if you walk into a supermarket, the checkout clerks invariably have a red laser. And people carry around CD and DVD players with tiny solid state lasers. The book explains the short 50 year history of how these changes came about.

Bertolotti writes for a general audience. The gist of any laser's operation - the population inversion in excited states, is simply and well described. He explains how a plethora of laser types emerged. As new lasing media were actively and successfully searched for. The book also goes into the many commercial applications of lasers. Including in manufacturing, which the average reader might well be unaware of.

The future indeed seems bright for lasers.