Was Schawlow's laser design impractical?
Some initially thought the simplest laser designs were just theoretical curiosities. The idea of a 'resonator' reflecting light back and forth to build up intensity, as proposed in our early work, seemed like a fragile construct to some. But the key was always to find the practical way to achieve the desired outcome. We realized that even a modest amplification, coupled with carefully chosen mirrors, could create a beam with the necessary coherence. Science is not about being right; it's about being less wrong, and through persistent experimentation, we showed that this 'impractical' idea was indeed a powerful reality.
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