- Maiman, Theodore Harold
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[br]b. 11 July 1927 Los Angeles, California, USA[br]American physicist who developed the laser.[br]The son of an electrical engineer, Theodore H. Maiman graduated with the degree of BS in engineering physics from the University of Colorado in 1949. He then went on to do postgraduate work at Stanford University, where he gained an MS in electrical engineering in 1951 and a PhD in physics in 1955 for work on spectroscopy using microwave-optical techniques. He then joined the Hughes Research Laboratories, where he worked on the stimulated emission of microwave energy. In this field Charles H. Townes had developed the maser (an acronym of microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) and in a paper in 1958 with Arthur L. Schawlow he had suggested the possibility of a further development into optical frequencies, or, of an optical maser, later known as a laser (an acronym of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation). Maiman was the first to achieve this when in May 1960 he operated a ruby laser and coherent light was produced for the first time. In 1962 he founded his own company, Korad Corporation, for research, development and manufacture of high-power lasers. He founded Maiman Associates in 1968, acting as consultant on lasers and optics. He was a co-founder of the Laser Video Corporation in 1972, and in 1976 he became Vice-President for advanced technology at TRW Electronics.[br]Principal Honours and DistinctionsFranklin Institute Stuart Ballantine Medal 1962. American Electrical Society/American Astronautical Society Award 1965. American Physical Society Oliver E.Buckley Solid State Physics Prize 1966. Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Award for Applied Physical Science 1966. American Optical Society R.W.Wood Prize 1976.Bibliography1980, entry in McGraw-Hill Modern Scientists and Engineers, Part 2, New York, pp. 271–2 (autobiographical).RTS
Biographical history of technology. - Taylor & Francis e-Librar. Lance Day and Ian McNeil. 2005.
