Books by Mario Bertolotti

Traces the history of the laser from the first theoretical predictions of stimulated emission made in the 1920s through the experimental development of masers and lasers in the 50s and 60s, to the advanced applications of lasers. It is suitable for those working within the laser community and those with an interest in the history of science.

The book describes from a historical point of view how cosmic rays were discovered. The main focus is on how the knowledge was gained, describing the main experiments and the conclusions drawn. Cosmic rays have an official date of discovery which is linked to the famous balloon flights of the Austrian physicist Hess in 1912.