The Laser Inventor

Theodore H. Maiman (11.7.1927-5.5.2007) was the creator of the world's first laser. He completed his PhD in Physics at Stanford University under the Nobel Laureate Willis Lamb. Over the years, Maiman received various prizes, awards and accolades, including the Hertz Award (1966), the Optical Society of America's R.W. Wood Prize for "Pioneer Development of the First Laser" (1976), the Wolf Foundation Physics Prize (1984) and the Japan Prize (1987). In 1984 Maiman was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, and in 1994 into the Royal College of Surgeons of England as an Honorary Fellow. He was a member of both the National Academy of Sciences and the National Academy of Engineers, and was a Fellow of the American Physical Society, the Optical Society of America and the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers.

Dedication.- Acknowledgments.- Introductory Notes (Kathleen Maiman).- Prologue.- 1 Setting the Stage.- 2 Stepping Stones.- 3 The Ivory Tower.- 4 Entering the Real World.- 5 The Ruby Maser Distraction.- 6 Building Blocks.- 7 Laser Chronology.- 8 Race to the Light.- 9 Three Levels 'Can't Work'.- 10 Obstacles and Solutions.- 11 Let There Be Coherent Light.- 12 The Light Fantastic.- 13 Publication Fiasco - Enter Politics.- 14 The News Release.- 15 Aftershocks and Ripple Effects.- 16 Nullification Tactics.- 17 Bandwagoning.- 18 Forty Years of Spin.- 19 Exploding a Myth.- 20 Exit Hughes, Enter Korad.- 21 A Solution Looking for a Problem.- 22 Hughes Patent Blunders.- 23 The Paper Patents.- 24 Award Happenings.- 25 South American Adventure.- Epilogue: Afterthoughts.- Addendum 1: Speech by Dr. Theodore H. Maiman, July 7, 1960, at Press Conference, New York, Announcing the Creation of the First Laser.- Addendum 2: "Ted Maiman and the Laser: 50 Years Later", Tribute by Nick Holonyak, Jr..- Addendum 3: "Maiman's Laser: A Legacy of Limitless Applications", by Jeff Hecht.- Addendum 4: "Pretenders to Invention of the Laser", by Kathleen Maiman.- Addendum 5: Scientific Papers and Patents by Theodre H. Maiman.- Addendum 6: Theodore H. Maiman's Major Awards, Prizes, and Citations.- Addendum 7: Table of 35 Nobel Prize Awards Citing the Laser, 1964-2014.- Addendum 8: Table of Japan Prize Awards Citing the Laser, 1987-2014.- Addendum 9: U.S. Patent Number 3,353,115: Ruby Laser Systems, Inventor Theodore H. Maiman.- Addendum 10: Reprint of T.H. Maiman, "Stimulated Optical Radiation in Ruby," Nature, 187, 493-494 (August 6, 1960).- Name Index.- Subject Index.

"This important autobiography, replete with color images, is augmented with Maiman's patent on ruby laser systems and his first, 1960 laser paper in Nature ... this book includes key addenda on his scientific papers and patents as well as his highly deserved awards, prizes, and citations." (Barry R. Masters, Optics & Photonics News, osa-opn.org, April 11, 2019)

"The Laser Inventor is an interesting and engaging peek into one of modern history of science and technology's  most dramatic, far-reaching developments. It's even quite reasonably priced for a Springer hardback. Recommended." (Brian Clegg, Popular Science, popsciencebooks.blogspot.com, January, 2018)
"The Laser Inventor presents a lot of interesting material and captures a piece of the history ofscience. I recommend it to everyone who wants to learn about the laser's beginnings." ( Mario Bertolotti, Physics Today, Vol. 71 (12), December, 2018)