AT&T Archives: Principles of the Optical Maser (Bonus Edition)

Introduction by George Kupczak of the AT&T Archives and History Center

This 1963 film shows how basic physical concepts are applied to make an optical maser oscillate. The optical maser is examined as a generator of electromagnetic energy in the optical range of frequencies, having many similar qualities to standard radio and microwave oscillators. The principal types of gas and solid-state optical masers are shown in the laboratory.

Dr. C. G. B. Garrett of Bell Laboratories (and his prominent British accent) presents the material, which also includes lab demonstrations and animation. The Optical maser is a phrase that means the same as Laser - or Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation. A Laser is basically a Maser that works with photons in the light spectrum. There are optical and infrared masers, as profiled in the 1958 pioneering paper that introduced the concept to the world, written by Bell Labs scientists Charles H. Townes and Arthur L. Schawlow.

Dr. Garrett worked with Dr.s Townes and Schawlow, and is shown here with the latter.

Original audience: college students
Produced at Bell Laboratories
Footage courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center, Warren, NJ

[VoteScientist]

Anyone interested in the history of science will find this film valuable.
Thank you AT&T

[omsingharjit]

Such deep and true Knowledge is impossible or at least rare to find nowadays

[michaelrose]

The AT&T Archive series it top notch, thank you so much for sharing this!

[anteconfig]

Everytime I watch old informative videos about something in science, (much like what this video is) I'm amazed at how incredibly concise they are. It makes me wonder why the more updated science videos are so difficult to understand.
Well, either they really knew how to explain these things they know or I know more so I understand better. hmmm... I can't tell.

[liveCha]

amazing! how science enables technology and technology stimulates science...

[admiralprestoncole]

His cursive writing on the chalkboard is mesmerizing

[Andrewzero]

13:30 that sound really makes you feel something. idk what

[soteriology]

This guy is more focused & intense than the lasers he creates. Less emotion than Mr Spock.

[absolutely]

30:12 typo. maser is written ''master''

[andrewlankford]

The viewer is asked to forgive the cadences and stiff upper lip delivery indicative of a posh Oxbridge rearing.
It turns out that Dr. Garrett passed away just last spring. Nice to have listened in at least one of his lectures.

[stevenclarke]

I have no idea what this bloke is taking about! It’s way over my head .

[muntee]

I’m struggling to grasp this ‘negative temperature’ bit

If you strike my Fork enough times I get spontaneous emission too.
You need a much higher pumping intensity to make Ruby oscillate. 🤐

[heintmeyer]

Its like David Byrne if he knew about something useful.

[ThunderAppeal]

'Fire the "maser".'

[markj.]

And now we can just get a solid state optical cavity laser of the same power from the dollar store for $5.

[quantumofspace]

Благодарю Вас за видео.  Здравствуйте,  интересно можете думать не по шаблону?
Как воздух носит волны звука. Так и гравитационное поля носит волны света.
Данные выводы возможно подтвердит экспериментально:
1. На поверхности земли, его гравитационным полем, сносим направлено скорость света в волокне у оптических угловых гироскопов которые, расположены симметрично на специальной платформе и движутся по кругу без угловой скорости.
2. Используя два равных источника твердотельных мазеров, установленных встречно на периметре диска и при помощи отражателей и интерферометра Майкельсона возможно построить опыт определяющий скорость на периметре диска если он вращается или скорость движения автомобиля в «ДОМИНИРУЮЩЕМ ГРАВИТАЦИОННОМ ПОЛЕ ЗЕМЛИ.
Вопрос. Почему нельзя при помощи этих же инструментов также определить на Земли её скорость по периметру орбит?  Скорость света константа – но в рамках доминирующего гравитационного поля; планеты, звезды, галактики, скопления галактик … . –

[sbalogh]

I predict that these lab curiosities will never have a practical application.

[absolutely]

got a laser from china shipped to canada for $0.99

the dogs like to chase the blue light. would take this one badck in a time machine and make more money than google.

[UntouchableLivingone-jiun]

How can't you magnify magnetic fields . In eye out eye is speck in i beam out I of the superman untouchable living one wont taste death