It heals eyes and at the same time, it has the energy to cut through metal. It is able to write, to measure, to shape matter, and to transfer information: We are talking about the laser, a tool of contraries. As 50 years ago the U.S.-citizen Theodore Maiman finished the first working laser he probably had his own ideas of its use in the future. Otherwise he would not have spent his free time and threatened his former employer with his dismissal if he had not been allowed to continue his laser project. Not only Maiman, also the public in general was positive about the laser’s usage. The Time Magazine described the laser as “the hottest topic in the field of state physics since the transistor”. But Maiman’s rubin laser did not fulfill the expectations: the laser materials were too impure, the power too little. The researchers were discouraged; the laser was mocked as an invention in search of an application. There were successful experiments, like the one where a laser pierced a steel girder, but the conventional solutions stayed outclassed. One billion US dollar, the laser should achieve ten years later, forecasted the business press with enthusiasm in the year 1962. Turnover figures on which the economy had to wait for a long time. But today the everyday life is not to imagine without the laser technology: The laser beam reads the CD and DVD’s data, supermarket cash points work on the basis of its invention. The laser light is even used for entertainment in so called laser shows.
All the applications known today are possible due to the fact that laser beams are available in all desired wave lengths. For this, just the corresponding laser materials have to be chosen. Furthermore, laser beams can be generated as ultra short pulses. Especially in recent times, the pulses are getting shorter, the laser radiation covers the whole electromagnetic spectrum – from short wavelength X-radiation to long wavelength infrared. And meanwhile, they reach a peak power of some petawatt. But that’s not the end of the laser project which started 50 years ago. At the moment, researchers of the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in Californian Livermore try to realize nuclear fusion reactions with laser radiation.
At this year’s Control show, from May, 4 until May, 7, there were numerous laser applications, mainly in the special show “Contactless Measurement”. Combined with image processing, the laser is able to control the product’s quality contact-free, e.g. with laser scanning sensors.
Let yourself be inspired and sink your teeth into your idea’s realization, like Maiman. I am curious to see on which development we may report in 50 years from now.
Stephanie Nickl
Editor INSPECT
Posted by stephanienickl 
