SPIE Virtual Laser Exhibit: 1980 - 1989

5mW HeNe Laser head, 632.8 nm
Time Period: c. Early 1980s
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

Example of HeNe laser used in Xerography

442-nm HeCd Laser
Time Period: c. Early 1980s
Technology Represented: Helium Cadmium Lasers

Semiconductor wafer Inspection Laser

First Extremely Tunable (1.25 octave) Ge-crystal Semiconductor Laser
Time Period: c. 1985
Technology RepresentedGe-crystal semiconductor laser

At Lebedev Physics Institute (Moscow, USSR), principal investigator Andre Chebotarёv built this Ge-crystal semiconductor laser and first demonstrated extremely tunable (1.25 octave) DWDM regime in range 80-200 um on Landau transitions with effective electrons mass transformations in Germanium. Ge laser is direct pumped with scalable power and highest reliability, for 25 years of operation. Applications include photonics on Si/Ge/Graphene wafer integration and interconnects, quasi-optic communications, DNA /molecular analysis, substitution of power vacuum electronics, and solar cells.

Coherent Model 200
Time Period: c. 1980s
Technology Represented: Single Frequency Helium Neon Laser

Cylindrical laser tube with temperature control to stabilize single frequency output.

Coherent Model 555 Dye Laser
Time Period: c. 1980s - 1990s
Technology Represented: CW Tunable Dye Laser - Optically pumped with CW argon or krypton laser

Scientific spectroscopy laser

Cymer CX2-LS Excimer Laser
Time Period: c. 1988-1991
Technology Represented: 248-nm Krypton Fluoride Excimer

This Krypton Fluoride, 248-nm laser was installed in 1989 at the US Center for Excellence in DUV Lithography at UC Berkeley formed to investigate various challenges associated with extending lithography wavelengths to 250 nm and lower. The laser was used as a light source for a high NA micro-exposure tool, bulk resist characterization, and general materials testing at this short wavelength. Excimer lasers used to pattern semiconductor chips today are much larger and have about 30X higher power and rep rate, and operate at a bandwidth 30X lower. 

HeNe Laser Tube
Time Period: c. 1985
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

Laser tube originally designed by Hughes Aircraft

Jodon SD-201-1.50 HeNe Bare Tube
Time Period: c. 1981
Technology Displayed: Side-arm Cathode HeNe

Melles Griot's Laser Brochure
Time Period: c. 1980
Technology Represented: Helium Neon lasers

First brochure of the laser products

Model 3900 Spectra-Physics Laser
Time Period: c. 1988
Technology Represented: Ti:Sapphire

First commercial cw Ti:Sapphire laser 

Original laser housing for Melles Griot HeNe lasers
Time Period: c. Early 1980s
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

Used in laser alignment 

Quasar Laser Tag Laser Assembly
Time Period: c. Mid 1980s
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

Green HeNe Laser for Laser Tag

Spectra Physics Model 124 B
Time Period: c. 1980s
Technology Represented: External Mirror Helium Neon Laser

15 milliwatt "high power laboratory HeNe, will run red in infrared
Wavelengths with different mirror sets

Barcode POS Laser Sub-assy
Time Period: c. Late 1980s
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

HeNe Lasers used in Table-top Barcode scanners

CUI YAG MAX
Time Period: 1980s
Technology Represented: Incandescent Lamp Pumped CW YAG Laser

Small laboratory laser

HeNe Laser Tube
Time Period: c. 1985
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

Laser tube originally designed by Hughes Aircraft

Barcode POS Laser Sub-assy
Time Period: c. Late 1980s
Technology Represented: Helium Neon Lasers

HeNe Lasers used in Table-top Barcode scanners

Coherent Model 200
Time Period: c. 1980s
Technology Represented: Single Frequency Helium Neon Laser

Cylindrical laser tube with temperature control to stabilize single frequency output.

Next Page - 1990 to 1999
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