Lasers

doi:10.1117/3.2553485.ch9

Lasers

Book: Photonics Rules of Thumb, Third Edition

Author(s): John Lester Miller, Katie Schwertz, Edward J. Friedman, John N. Sanders-Reed, Brian K. McComas

Published: 2020

https://doi.org/10.1117/3.2553485.ch9

Author Affiliations +

Abstract

Revolutions in photonics are occasional and important. Since the earliest photonics developments (TV, photomultipliers, and others in the 1920s), most of this discipline’s history has involved slow evolution punctuated with occasional, dramatic technological improvements. Like the invention of the lens, film, and electronic sensors, lasers caused a revolution throughout the discipline. And they provided the impetus for advancements in many areas of photonics.