Making WavesFrom one of the most imaginative and daring scientific minds of this or any century comes a thoughtful, almost intimate account of a personal journey through his momentous discoveries - achievements that have changed the face of medicine, industry, even weapons. Nobel laureate Charles H. Townes, inventor of the maser and co-inventor, with Arthur Schawlow, of the laser, takes us on a behind-the-scenes tour of his unique - and startlingly productive and creative - way of working. Along the way, you'll learn about how Townes came upon his surprising findings and how he managed to avoid obstacles in his path. Townes introduces us to the wonders of the universe, from the submicroscopic, most minute - the workings of atoms and the even smaller particles that make them up - to the vast outer reaches of space. His tour takes us along paths Townes pioneered: quantum electronics, microwave spectroscopy and the frontiers of our galaxy where he explored the dark, rarefied clouds of gas and dust where new stars form. Recognizing that some of the most revolutionary recent scientific theories about how the universe emerged come close to religious thought, these accessible essays conclude with a uniquely personal coda in which Townes suggests that science and religion occupy the same terrain. |
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Contents
Quantum Electronics and Surprise in Development | 3 |
Origins of the Maser and the Laser | 16 |
Escaping Stumbling Blocks in Quantum Electronics | 24 |
Copyright | |
13 other sections not shown
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Common terms and phrases
absorption allow amplifier applied aspects atoms basic beam become believe Bell billion clear clearly clouds completely consider continue course detected devices difficult direct discovery earth effect electric electronics energy engineering evidence example exciting exist experience fact field Figure frequency further future give given hence human ideas important increased individual industrial infrared initial institutions intensity interest involved knowledge known laboratories laser laws less light limited lines look maser material measure microwave microwave spectroscopy molecular molecules nature needed occur optical origin oscillator particular perhaps physicists physics possible precision predicted present probably problems produced quantum quantum mechanics radiation radio reason region remarkable result rotational scientific scientists seemed short shows simply space stars stimulated success techniques things thought tion types understanding universe wavelengths waves
Bibliographic information
| Title | Making Waves Volume 14 of Masters of Modern Physics, ISSN 1057-4964 |
| Author | Charles Townes |
| Edition | illustrated |
| Publisher | American Inst. of Physics, 1995 |
| Original from | the University of Michigan |
| Digitized | Feb 11, 2010 |
| ISBN | 1563963345, 9781563963346 |
| Length | 210 pages |
| Subjects | › › Biography & Autobiography / Science & Technology Science / Physics / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |