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Theodore Maiman Tribute Symposium: Invention and Demonstration of the World’s First Laser

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Author Biography        

In 1960, Dr. Ted Maiman devised, demonstrated, and patented the world's first laser. His breakthrough creation changed the world, as we know it, and initiated the scientific explosion in what has come to be known as the electro-optics industry. From that auspicious beginning, all other lasers flowed as well as the enormous diversity in laser applications, including: fiber-optic communications, CD/DVD players and computer ROM’s, laser printers, industrial tools and revolutionary medical procedures.  

Dr. Maiman is listed in: Time 100, “A Century of Science”; Business Week’s “100 Years of Innovation”; Los Angeles Times, “Great Moments in Science and Technology”; Who's Who in the World; Who's Who in America; Who's Who in Frontier Science and Technology; Who Did What (a compendium of the 5,000 people deemed most influential in shaping our world, from the earliest recorded history to the present); and Modern Men of Science. He is indexed in encyclopedias Britannica, Americana Colliers, World Book, the New York Times Encyclopedia Almanac, and the Oxford Encyclopedia Almanac. And, he is included in displays in the Smithsonian Institute and the National Inventors Hall of Fame.

He is a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineers, and is a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Optical Society of America, and the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Dr. Maiman holds a B.S. degree in engineering-physics from the University of Colorado and both an M.S. in electrical engineering and a Ph.D. in Physics from Stanford University where his doctoral thesis was taken under the direction of Nobel laureate Willis Lamb.

He is the author of the basic patent on the ruby laser (the world's first laser), and is the author of a number of patents on masers, lasers, laser displays, optical scanning, and modulation.

Dr. Maiman has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards, including:

·   Fannie & John Hertz Foundation Award for “Distinguished Contribution in the Field of Science.” (Presented in a White House ceremony by Lyndon B. Johnson.)

·   Franklin Institute, Ballantine Award for "Pioneer Development of the First laser."

·   Aerospace Electrical Society/American Astronautical Society Award for "Development of the Laser."

·    University of Colorado, Associated Alumni, George Norlin and "Alumnus of the Century".

·    American Physical Society, Oliver E. Buckley Prize, 1966 for "The Most Important Contribution to Solid State Physics in the Prior Five Years"

·   Optical Society of America, “R.W. Wood Prize” 1976 for “Pioneer Development of the First Laser.”

·   Wolf Foundation, 1983 / 1984 Physics Prize. (International Nobel- level prize)

·   Inducted into National Inventors Hall of Fame 1984.

·   Laureate, Japan Prize “Electro-optics” 1987. (Considered the Nobel Prize of the East).

·   Honorary Doctorate – University of Cordoba, Argentina 1993.

·   Honorary Fellowship – Royal College of Surgeons of England 1994. ( The only non-physician, non-royal member of that revered society )  

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This page last updated:  Friday, April 18, 2008