Abstract

Twenty-five years ago, in 1964, I published the first paper on laser action on the vibrational-rotational transitions of carbon dioxide. Participating in the early development of carbon dioxide lasers where the power output increased from milliwatts to hundreds of watts was exhilarating. Progress in increasing the power output from the molecular vibrational-rotational lasers from hundreds of watts to megawatts has been astounding to watch. Applications of carbon dioxide lasers to science, industry, medicine, and remote sensing have been very rapid. I take the audience on a guided tour of relics and skeletons in the closets of the early history of carbon dioxide lasers and their applications.

© 1989 Optical Society of America