74: Laser Squad

This episode shows the give and take between applied physics, that is, the development of the laser, and chemistry, that is, media in which laser action can take place. We start with Albert Einstein's idea, Valentin Fabrikant's doctoral dissertation and (initially failing) patent. But simultaneously Charles Townes came up with a maser, producing microwaves, and his brother-in-law, Arthur Schawlow's idea of extending the maser into the visible wavelengths, overlapping with Gordon Gould's idea of a laser (and the word laser). We then shift to Richard Zare's work with lasers in chemistry experiments, followed by several inventors of the chemical dye laser. We speak of laser-induced spectroscopy and van der Waals complexes of molecules.