First Ruby Maser Power Supply

[Eidetic]

Here's a real nugget that unfortunately may be lost. It's a picture of the power supply that ran the magnet for Chihiro Kikuchi's first ruby maser from 1958. I got the pics from a man who said the supply was dismantled despite the tag, but I really don't know. Anyway, Kikuchi's (with grad student Lloyd G. Cross who made the first laser commercial scanning system "Sonovision") ruby maser stimulated Ted Maiman to improve it for X-band use, which he presented at the Shawanga Lodge conference in '59, which is where he decided to make a laser with ruby after hearing Art Schawlow dismiss pink ruby as a candidate. Brash young man knew better!

[Jem]

Great snippet of information Bob, thanks for posting.

Now, If only you could find the real thing...