Arthur leonard schawlow

Early Life and Education

Arthur Leonard Schawlow was born on May 5th, 1921, in Mount Vernon, New York. His family moved to Canada when he was just three years old, raising him in Toronto. He was very much interested in science from a very young age.

Schawlow attended public schools in Mount Vernon and he excelled in math and science. Since he was very passionate about physics, he enrolled at the University of Toronto in 1939. While pursuing his higher education in Physics he was guided by renowned physicist Arnold Nordsieck. He inspired Schawlow to delve deeper into the mysteries of the universe.

World War II and Academic Achievements

During World War II, Schawlow’s education was interrupted. During that time he served his country by teaching Physics to military personnel. He got his master’s degree also during that period. In 1949, he received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Toronto.

Personal Life

Scientists are believed to be bookworms. But Arthur Leonard Schawlow wasn’t one; he was a people person too. In 1951, he married Aurelia Townes, the sister of his future scientific collaborator, Charles Townes. Together, they built a happy family and raised three children.

Career at Bell Labs and Stanford University

In 1951 he joined Bell Labs, where he made significant contributions to the field of nuclear magnetic resonance. But his true calling awaited him at Stanford University. In 1961, he became a professor there and his life took a new turn.

Invention of the Laser

He worked along with Charles Townes, a brilliant physicist. Together, they planned a device that could amplify light waves, much like a MASER that amplifies microwaves. This revolutionary idea was named the Optical Maser. It was later shortened to the now-famous “laser.”

Their invention used a simple yet profound concept: using mirrors to create a cavity that would trap and amplify light waves. This simple process opened a doorway to a world of possibilities. The duo worked hard to create a working model of the laser. In 1960 they successfully developed a ruby laser which was marked as a turning point in history.

Impact of the Laser

Laser is a coherent beam of light with incredible properties. Now it’s used in everything from surgery and manufacturing to communication and scientific research. Laser is used for performing delicate eye surgeries to reading microscopic data on DVDs. The laser’s impact on our lives is undeniable.

Laser Spectroscopy and Nobel Prize

Schawlow’s contributions didn’t stop there. He continued his exploration of the fascinating world of laser spectroscopy. This technique uses lasers to study the properties of atoms and molecules with precision. For this work, he was awarded a shared Nobel Prize in physics in 1981. Sadly, Arthur Leonard Schawlow died of leukemia on April 28, 1999. He left behind a legacy of scientific brilliance.