The Laser Inventor : Memoirs of Theodore H. Maiman Dedication Acknowledgments Introductory Notes (Kathleen Maiman) Prologue 1 Setting the Stage 2 Stepping Stones 3 The Ivory Tower 4 Entering the Real World 5 The Ruby Maser Distraction 6 Building Blocks 7 Laser Chronology 8 Race to the Light 9 Three Levels ‘Can’t Work’ 10 Obstacles and Solutions 11 Let There Be Coherent Light 12 The Light Fantastic 13 Publication Fiasco – Enter Politics 14 The News Release 15 Aftershocks and Ripple Effects 16 Nullification Tactics 17 Bandwagoning 18 Forty Years of Spin 19 Exploding a Myth 20 Exit Hughes Enter Korad 21 A Solution Looking for a Problem 22 Hughes Patent Blunders 23 The Paper Patents 24 Award Happenings 25 South American Adventure Epilogue: Afterthoughts Addendum 1: Speech by Dr. Theodore H. Maiman July 7 1960 at Press Conference New York Announcing the Creation of the First Laser Addendum 2: “Ted Maiman and the Laser: 50 Years Later” Tribute by Nick Holonyak Jr. Addendum 3: “Maiman’s Laser: A Legacy of Limitless Applications” by Jeff Hecht Addendum 4: “Pretenders to Invention of the Laser” by Kathleen Maiman Addendum 5: Scientific Papers and Patents by Theodre H. Maiman Addendum 6: Theodore H. Maiman’s Major Awards Prizes and Citations Addendum 7: Table of 35 Nobel Prize Awards Citing the Laser 1964 2014 Addendum 8: Table of Japan Prize Awards Citing the Laser 1987 2014 Addendum 9: U.S. Patent Number 3 353 115: Ruby Laser Systems Inventor Theodore H. Maiman Addendum 10: Reprint of T.H. Maiman “Stimulated Optical Radiation in Ruby ” Nature 187 493 494 (August 6 1960) Name Index Subject Index. In these engaging memoirs of a maverick Theodore H. Maiman describes the life events leading to his invention of the laser in 1960. Maiman succeeded using his expertise in physics and engineering along with an ingenious and elegant design not anticipated by others. His pink ruby laser produced mankind’s first ever coherent light and has provided transformational technology for commerce industry telecom the Internet medicine and all the sciences. Maiman also chronicles the resistance from his employer and the ongoing intrigue by competing researchers in industry and academia seeking to diminish his contribution in inventing the first laser. This work will appeal to a wide readership from physicists and engineers through science enthusiasts to general readers. The volume includes extensive photos and documentary materials related to Maiman’s life and accomplishments never before published. No one beat Maiman to the laser. How important is the laser How important are all lasers That is how important we have to regard Maiman’s contribution.He and the laser changed all of our lives everyone’s! Dr. Nick Holonyak Jr. Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Physics University of Illinois at Champaigne Urbana and inventor of the light emitting diode (LED) and co inventor of the transistor laser More than five decades later we can safely conclude that Theodore Maimans groundbreaking discovery changed the world. Our modern life just as scientific research would be quite different without the laser. Dr. Ferenc Krausz Director Max Planck Institute for Quantum Optics Garching Germany and Professor of Physics Ludwig Maximilian University Munich and pioneer in attosecond lasers and attophysics Maiman had the stroke of genius needed to take a different approach [from his competitors]. The sheer elegance and simplicity of his design belies the intellectual achievement it represents. If his invention seems obvious to some today it was far from obvious in 1960. Jeff Hecht authoritative science writer on the historical development of the laser author of books on lasers and fiber optics.