Experimental Ruby Laser
date: label: date made
content: 1963
notes: label: Description
content: This is an experimental ruby laser made in 1963 at Ohio State University. Edward Damon, a researcher at the University’s Antenna Laboratory, made this and several other lasers during his investigation of Theodore Maiman’s ruby laser experiments of three years earlier.
label: Description
content: In addition to replicating Maiman's 1960 experiments, Damon wished to explore variations of the ruby laser. Unlike Maiman's laser, this laser does not use a spiral flashlamp to energize the ruby crystal. Instead, Damon placed three linear flashlamps parallel to the rod-shaped laser crystal. Firing these lamps simultaneously provided energy to the crystal. The laser also demonstrates a water cooling technique still used in some lasers today.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Electricity
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content: Energy & Power
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content: Lasers
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content: Science & Mathematics
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: from the Ohio State University ElectroScience Laboratory, thru John Volakis, William J. Shkurti and Stuart Collins
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 2009.0228.02
label: accession number
content: 2009.0228
label: catalog number
content: 2009.0228.02
objectType: label: Object Name
content: laser
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: aluminum (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (flash tube material)
label: Physical Description
content: ruby (crystal material)
label: Physical Description
content: xenon (fill gas material)
label: Physical Description
content: tungsten (electrode material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: plastic (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: copper (part material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 8 1/4 in x 11 in x 6 in; 20.955 cm x 27.94 cm x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: laser on base: 7 1/2 in x 11 in x 6 in; 19.05 cm x 27.94 cm x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: cover: 4 1/2 in x 11 in x 6 in; 11.43 cm x 27.94 cm x 15.24 cm