Laser Pioneer Anthony Siegman Dies

[Jimboy3625]

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2011/o...it-101411.html

[mixedgas]

Rest In Peace, Tony. Thanks for your kind help and encouraging words over the years. God Bless you.

Steve

[Eidetic]

You bet he'll rest in peace! Tony Siegman always had time to talk with anyone interested in lasers and help them along. It was a great pleasure chatting with him over the years, most recently when we got together as he donated a bunch of books and some of his long held laser devices to my collection.

[masterpj]

it's always sad to see someone pass away.
Despite me not knowing tony: I hope he rests in peace
God bless him.


Pieter

[mixedgas]

For those who do not know, Dr Seigman did most of the math work on how the optical resonators inside lasers function. He also did most of the work on how laser beams behave outside the laser. If you had a question about transverse or longitudinal modes, Tony knew the answer.

He not only did the theory, he did a lot of practical lab work. Tony was the co-inventor of one type of visible gas laser, which used a nitrogen-mercury mix, optically pumped by a simple germicidal lamp. If the green HENE had not been slightly easier to build, N-Hg would have became the low cost, green, gas laser.

He had a open door policy, and did not care if you were a student, a hobbyist, or a career professional, he would always find time to answer your questions. He openly embraced on-line communications, finding time to visit news-groups and on line chat.

Not one to work alone, he had a habit of taking leadership in bringing others together to solve problems. He worked hard with industry to standardize how laser beams are measured.

Thank you, Tony, for your patience and passion.

Steve