Experimental Ruby Laser
date: label: date made
content: 1963
name: label: maker
content: Ohio State University
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 successful ruby laser experiments of three years earlier.
label: Description
content: An important part of science consists of replicating the experiments conducted by other researchers and confirming their results. Like Maiman's 1960 laser, Damon's 1963 laser used a photographer's helical flashlamp to energize the ruby crystal. It demonstrated the use of mirrors external to the ruby rod instead of mirrors deposited in the crystal itself. The mirrors are on adjustable mounts that allowed Damon to make a variety of experiments with this unit.
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: 2009.0228.01
label: accession number
content: 2009.0228
label: catalog number
content: 2009.0228.01
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: plastic (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: brass (part material)
label: Physical Description
content: copper (part material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 10 1/2 in x 18 1/2 in x 6 in; 26.67 cm x 46.99 cm x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: laser on base: 8 1/2 in x 18 1/2 in x 6 in; 21.59 cm x 46.99 cm x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: cover with handle: 8 1/2 in x 16 in x 6 in; 21.59 cm x 40.64 cm x 15.24 cm
label: Measurements
content: end pieces: 6 3/4 in x 5 3/4 in x 1/4 in; 17.145 cm x 14.605 cm x .635 cm