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A physicist, Schawlow designed the Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation -- the laser -- with Dr. Charles H. Townes, based on Towne's earlier microwave amplifier, the maser. Schawlow's breakthrough, an "echo chamber" for light based on an artificial ruby, was the key. Townes and Schawlow, working in Townes' lab at Columbia University (though Schawlow actually worked for Bell Labs), published their work in 1958. The first working device sprang to light on May 16, 1960, in Malibu, Calif. Schawlow shared the 1981 Nobel Prize in Physics for contributions to the development of laser spectroscopy. He died April 28 in Palo Alto, Calif., from congestive heart failure, a complication of leukemia. He was 77. From This is True for 25 April 1999 Suggestions for further reading:
 By: Charles H. Townes List Price: $82.00 Amazon Price: $82.00 Editorial Review: In How the Laser Happened, Nobel laureate Charles Townes provides a highly personal look at some of the leading events in twentieth-century physics. Townes was inventor of the maser, of which the laser is one example; an originator of spectroscopy using microwaves; and a pioneer in the study of gas clouds in galaxies and around stars. Throughout his career he has also been deeply engaged with issues outside of academic research. He worked on applied research projects for Bell Labs; served on the board of directors for General Motors; and devoted extensive effort to advising the government on science, policy, and defense. This memoir traces his multifaceted career from its beginnings on the family farm in South Carolina. Spanning decades of ground-breaking research, the book provides a hands-on description of how working scientists and inventors get their ideas. It also gives a behind-the-scenes look at the scientific community, showing how scientists respond to new ideas and how they approach a variety of issues, from priority and patents to the social and political implications of their work. In addition, Townes touches on the sociology of science, uncovering some of the traditions and values that are invisible to an outsider. A towering and energetic figure, Townes has explored or pioneered most of the roles available to the modern scientist. In addition to fundamental research, he was actively involved in the practical uses of the laser and in the court cases to defend the patent rights. He was a founding member of the Jasons, an influential group of scientists that independently advises the government on defense policy, and he played an active part in scientific decisions and policies from the Truman through the Reagan administration. This lively memoir, packed with first-hand accounts and historical anecdotes, is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of science and an inspiring example for students considering scientific careers. Selected Papers on Optical Chaos (S P I E Milestone Series) By: F. T. Arecchi List Price: $141.00 Amazon Price: $141.00 Maser and Laser Engineering By: Thomas Koryu Ishii List Price: $34.50 Amazon Price: $34.50 Selected Papers on Fundamentals of Lasers (Spie Milestone Series ; V. Ms 70) By: William T. Silfvast List Price: $110.00 Amazon Price: $110.00  By: M Elitzur List Price: $245.00 Amazon Price: $245.00 Editorial Review: One of the most spectacular discoveries of molecular astronomy has been the detection of maser emission. The same radiation that is generated in the laboratory only with elaborate, special equipment occurs naturally in interstellar space. This intense radiation probes the smallest structures that can be studied with radio telescopes. By a fortunate coincidence maser radiation is generated in both star forming regions and the envelopes of late-type stars. The early and late stages in the life of a star are considered to be the most interesting phases of stellar evolution. Maser emission has also been detected in external galaxies. This book provides an extensive coverage of the interstellar maser phenomenon. A precondition for maser action is departure from thermal equilibrium. The book therefore starts with a detailed coverage of the basic background concepts required for an understanding of line formation and radiative transfer. It goes on to describe the theoretical and phenomenological aspects of interstellar masers, their formation sites and the inversion mechanisms. The book will interest active researchers in astronomy and astrophysics as well as in other areas of physics. It is suitable as a textbook in a graduate course and will enable a graduate student to embark on research projects in this exciting area in particular, and molecular radio astronomy in general. |
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