Abstract
Using Bohr’s theory of optical resonators, Einstein (1917) predicted that atoms could be stimulated to emit light. But it was not until 40 years later that Towns and Schawlow (1958) conceived of the basic principles of operation of the maser (microwave amplification by stimulated emission of radiation) that Maiman (1960) was able to construct a device to emit radiation in the visible region of the spectrum. Within one year of the visible laser being developed, the first medical application was reported in ophthalmology for treatment of an eye tumour (Meyer-Schwickerath, 1961). Since this time application of lasers in medicine has progressed rapidly.
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© 1991 Springer Science+Business Media New York
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Repacholi, M.H., McLennan, G., Pugatschew, A., Hancock, R. (1991). Current and Future Applications of Lasers in Medicine. In: Grandolfo, M., Rindi, A., Sliney, D.H. (eds) Light, Lasers, and Synchrotron Radiation. NATO ASI Series, vol 242. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0661-8_33
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-0661-8_33
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