The Year 2020 represents 60 years since the first successful operation of the laser.This anniversary provides an ideal occasion to reflect on the myriad ways that lasers have revolutionized society,and to consider the...The Year 2020 represents 60 years since the first successful operation of the laser.This anniversary provides an ideal occasion to reflect on the myriad ways that lasers have revolutionized society,and to consider the many new areas of research that continue to drive photonics in unexpected directions.Yet at the same time as we consider these exciting future perspectives,it is also interesting to see how the development of the laser traces a path that intertwines basic and applied science,and intersects with the recognition of many of the pioneers of optics through the Nobel Prize.Of course,an exhaustive history of such a rich topic cannot be given in a short Perspective,but it is perhaps possible to describe some of the key highlights.展开更多
文摘The Year 2020 represents 60 years since the first successful operation of the laser.This anniversary provides an ideal occasion to reflect on the myriad ways that lasers have revolutionized society,and to consider the many new areas of research that continue to drive photonics in unexpected directions.Yet at the same time as we consider these exciting future perspectives,it is also interesting to see how the development of the laser traces a path that intertwines basic and applied science,and intersects with the recognition of many of the pioneers of optics through the Nobel Prize.Of course,an exhaustive history of such a rich topic cannot be given in a short Perspective,but it is perhaps possible to describe some of the key highlights.
