Which inventor demonstrated the first working laser in 1960?

Theodore Maiman demonstrated the first working laser on May 16, 1960, at Hughes Research Laboratories in Malibu, California.

Maiman’s device used a synthetic ruby crystal as the laser medium and a flash lamp to provide optical pumping. The ruby emitted a brief, intense pulse of coherent red light at a wavelength of 694 nanometres. This demonstration established the first practical operation of a laser, an acronym for “light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation.”

The scientific foundation came earlier. Albert Einstein described stimulated emission in 1917, while Charles Townes and Arthur Schawlow published important theoretical work on optical masers in 1958. Several researchers, including Gordon Gould, also pursued related ideas, which is why histories sometimes distinguish theoretical proposals, patents, and the first working device.

Maiman’s ruby laser was not designed for everyday consumer use. Later lasers became important in medicine, communications, manufacturing, barcode scanners, optical storage, and scientific research.