1950

1950 — Suggested a method of "optical pumping" for orientation of paramagnetic atoms or nuclei in the ground state.

Alfred Kastler

This was an important step on the way to the development of lasers. For this research, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1966.

1950 — Double resonance method proposed

Jean Brossel and Kastler

Proposed the " double resonance method ", which combines optical resonance with magnetic resonance.

1950 — Perfected a method of screen intensification that reduces radiation exposure and improves fluoroscopic vision.

Russell Morgan, Edward Chamberlain, and John W. Coltman

Their image intensifier in fluoroscopy is now universally used in medical fluoroscopy and in military applications, including night vision.

1951 — Patent for fiber-optic imagine

Holger Moller Hansen

Applies for a Danish patent on fiber-optic imaging in which he proposes cladding glass or plastic fibers with a transparent low-index material. Patent claim is denied because of Hansell patent.

1951 — First suggestion of transparent cladding around fibers to improve transmission

Brian O'Brien (Univ of Rochester)

Suggests to Abraham C. S. Van Heel (Technical Univ of Delft) that applying a transparent cladding around fibers would improve transmission of images through his fiber bundle.

1952 — Creation of an oscillator based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic waves

Aleksandr M. Prokharov & N.G. Basov

Created an oscillator based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic waves by the excited molecules of a molecular beam. In the process of developing an ammonia-beam molecular oscillator, Prokhorov formulated the main principles of, and laid the physical foundation for, quantum electronics. This led to Nobel Prize in Physics in 1964 shared with C. H. Townes.

1952 — Experimental results confirm theoretical description of nonspherical nucleu

Aage N. Bohr and Ben R. Mottelson.

Experimental results confirm theoretical description of nonspherical nucleus by Rainwater (1949). For their work the three scientists were awarded jointly the 1975 Nobel Prize for Physics.

1952 — Grant application to develop bundles of glass fibers to use in a endoscope made

Harold Horace Hopkins

Applies for a grant from the Royal Society to develop bundles of glass fibers for use as an endoscope at Imperial College of Science & Technology.

1953 — Nobel prize awarded for phase contract method

Frederik Zernike

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for his demonstration of the phase contrast method, especially for his invention of the phase contrast microscope," that improves contrast be removing background lighting by phase shifting it, developed in 1938.

1953 — First report of clas fiber published

Abraham C. S. Van Heel

Publishes first report of clad fiber in Dutch-language weekly De Ingeneur after submitting brief paper to Nature.

1954 — First patent for magnetic computer memory

Jacob Rabinow

Patented the first magnetic computer memory to use a disc instead of a tape for data storage.

1954 — First MASER (Microwave Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation)

Charles H. Townes, James P. Gordon & Herbert J. Zeiger

1954 — Imaging bundles of fiber

H. H. Hopkins, N. S. Kapany, and A. C.. S. van Heel

Publish separate papers in Nature. Hopkins and Kapany report imaging bundles of unclad fibers; van Heel reports simple bundles of clad fibers.

1955 — Nobel Prize awarded for disocvery in hydrogen

Willis Lamb

Awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics "for his discoveries concerning the fine structure of the hydrogen spectrum,"a small shift of energy in two energy levels of the hydrogen atom.

1955 — Development of the Confocal scanning microscope

Marvin Minsky

Confocal scanning microscope, which uses point illumination and a pinhole in front of the detector so that the out-of-focus background light is eliminated, improving contrast and resolution.

1956 — Makes first glass-clad fibers by rod-in-tube method.

Larry Curtiss

1957 — The first test of a fiber-optic endoscope in a patient takes place.

Hirschowitz

1958 — Concept of LASER (Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission Radiation) introduced

Charles H. Townes, Arthur L. Schawlow

1958 — First envisioned the Optical Disk, a precurse to today's DVD, which he called a VIDEODISK.

David Paul Gregg

1958 — Demonstrates the first small-scale photocopying machine.

Chester F. Carlson

1958 — Invention of a medical imaging device using gamma rays

Hal Anger

Invents a medical imaging device using gamma rays emitted by radioactive isotopes that enables physicians to detect tumors and make diagnoses.

1959 — First photographs of the Far Side of the Moon

The first photographs of the Far Side of the Moon are taken by Soviet satellite Luna III.

1959 — Introduction of the term laser.

Gordon Gould

Introduction the term laser in a seminal paper, "The LASER: Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation."

1959 — Development of fiber so fine they transmit only a single mode of light

Working with Will Hicks, American Optical draws fibers so fine they transmit only a single mode of light. Elias Snitzer recognizes the bibers as single-mode waveguides.