On May 16, 1960, Theodore Maiman made history by demonstrating the first functional laser at Hughes Research Laboratories.

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. This is a ruby crystal from Theodore ...

In 1960, Theodore H. Maiman's experiment at Hughes Research Laboratories produced the first laser beam using a ruby crystal ...

After nine months of intensive study, physicist Theodore Maiman was hoping for a flash of brilliance. It was spring 1960, and Maiman had been working with an assistant, Irnee D’Haenens, at the Hughes ...

IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more. This is an experimental ruby laser ...

The laser’s early years were full of scientific creativity, public-relations spin and intense rivalry. Pauline Rigby describes how a then little-known scientist became the first person to design and ...

Dr. Theodore Maiman studies a ruby crystal in the shape of a cube in a laser. Photo courtesy Bettman/Corbis View Slideshow __1960: __Physicist Theodore Maiman uses a synthetic-ruby crystal to create ...

The military has been striving to build a laser powerful enough to make an effective weapon literally since the first ruby laser was demonstrated back in 1960. Now General Atomics is working with ...

Light's shadow: Researchers showed that a laser beam can sometimes act like a solid object and cast a shadow that is visible to the naked eye. In the picture, the shadow appears as the horizontal line ...