The Biological Effects of Laser Radiation

THE NECESSARY CONDITIONS for a quantum- radiation generator were first postulated by V. A. Fabrikant in his doctoral dissertation published by the Lebedev Institute in 1939. 1 Actual construction of the first molecular oscillator or maser ( M icrowave A mplification by the S timulated E mission of R adiation) was reported by Gordon and associates in 1954. 2 In 1958, Schawlow and Townes 3 further demonstrated the feasibility of extending the maser principle to shorter wavelengths in the visible light spectrum. In 1960, Maiman 4 succeeded in inducing stimulated emission in a ruby crystal. This visible light or optical maser utilized the principle of L ight A mplification by the S timulated E mission of R adiation ( laser ). Since Maiman's original work, extensive and concentrated research has resulted in the development of other types of laser crystals and other types of lasers, ie, the gaseous continuous wave or CW laser