Wave guide with ruby crystal
date: label: date made
content: 1959
label: associated date
content: 1960
name: label: associated user
content: unknown
label: associated institution
content: Hughes Research Laboratories
label: maker
content: Maiman, Theodore H.
label: maker
content: Hughes Aircraft Company
notes: label: Description
content: This is an experimental device made by Theodore Maiman at Hughes Aircraft in late 1959 or early 1960 as part of the series of experiments leading up to the demonstration of the first laser in May 1960. This object features a cube-shaped ruby crystal mounted at one end of a microwave wave-guide. Maiman sought to test the response of the synthetic ruby crystal to microwave stimulation. Other researchers claimed that ruby would be a poor material to use in a laser. Maiman thought otherwise.
label: Description
content: After Charles Townes invented the microwave-emitting maser in 1954, researchers began trying to move to the higher energy levels of infrared and visible light. They referred to such devices as "optical masers," and only later did people adopt Gordon Gould's term, "laser." This experimental piece clearly shows the influence of microwave technology. The metal tube is not a stand but rather a hollow guide that channels microwaves to the ruby crystal. The results of this and other experiments led Maiman to ultimately choose a cylinder of ruby rather than a cube for his laser.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: Place Made
content: United States: California, Malibu
topic: label: Subject
content: Laser
label: Subject
content: Invention
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
label: See more items in
content: Energy & Power
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content: Lasers
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from Hughes Aircraft Company, thru Dr. George F. Smith
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: EM.330052
label: accession number
content: 288813
label: catalog number
content: 330052
objectType: label: Object Name
content: wave guide
label: Object Name
content: laser apparatus
label: Object Name
content: laser
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: ruby (crystal material)
label: Physical Description
content: metal (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 in x 1 3/4 in x 1 3/4 in; 20.32 cm x 4.445 cm x 4.445 cm
label: Measurements
content: crystal only: 3/8 in x 3/8 in x 3/8 in; .9525 cm x .9525 cm x .9525 cm