A Personal Experience of Early Laser Research and Development

 John Prince

This talk covers the research and development of solid-state lasers over a period of 20 years, starting with invention of the first laser by Theodore Maiman in 1960.

It will look at research into the use of lasers as rangefinders for military vehicles, followed by work on high powered lasers at the Korad Corporation, whose President was Maiman. Finally, project management of airborne laser systems during the 1970s included rangefinders, designators and laser-guided bombs.