Past, present, and future of laser technology

Giuseppe Baldacchini

doi:10.1117/12.316553

14 July 1998 Past, present, and future of laser technology

Giuseppe Baldacchini

Proceedings Volume 3423, Second GR-I International Conference on New Laser Technologies and Applications; (1998) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316553
Event: Second GR-I International Conference on New Laser Technologies and Applications, 1997, Olympia, Greece

Abstract

The laser is one of the most fantastic and versatile tool invented recently, although its story began with luminescent phenomena, which have been always at the center of curiosity of mankind since ancient times. However the important aspects of the luminescence have been discovered in the past century, and only in the present one the various basic and technical knowledges coalesced for the realization of the first laser device. Since then the field exploded almost exponentially, and thousands of different materials, in the state of solids, liquids, vapors, gases, plasmas, and elementary particles have lased up to now. However only a few of them became practical lasers, which have been used with outstanding results both in basic science, and in industrial and commercial applications. Due to the vastness ofthe laser field, only the most important aspects will be considered here, starting from the essential historical background, describing the rapid evolution of the main laser systems in the past decades, and trying to forecast the near future developments. In general, although a few sectors show signs of maturity, the field as a whole looks well alive and there will be a new golden age as a consequence of impressive technological advances.

Citation Download Citation

Giuseppe Baldacchini "Past, present, and future of laser technology", Proc. SPIE 3423, Second GR-I International Conference on New Laser Technologies and Applications, (14 July 1998); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.316553

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members: $17.00

Non-members: $21.00 ADD TO CART

PROCEEDINGS
11 PAGES

DOWNLOAD PAPER SAVE TO MY LIBRARY

GET CITATION

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Get copyright permission Get copyright permission on Copyright Marketplace

KEYWORDS

Semiconductor lasers

Solid state lasers

Laser applications

Crystals

Ruby

Ions

Luminescence

Show All Keywords

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years