C. Kumar N. Patel
Encyclopedia
C. Kumar N. Patel developed the carbon dioxide laser
in 1963; it is now widely used in industry for cutting and welding
, as a laser scalpel
in surgery
, and in laser skin resurfacing. Because the atmosphere
is quite transparent to infrared light, CO2 laser
s are also used for military rangefinding
using LIDAR
techniques.
Patel was born in Baramati
, India
, and received a Bachelor of Engineering
(B.E.) degree from the College of Engineering, the University of Pune, India and the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University
in 1959 and 1961, respectively. Patel joined Bell Laboratories in 1961, and subsequently became Executive Director of the Research, Materials Science, Engineering and Academic Affairs Division at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey
, where he developed the carbon dioxide laser. Patel's discovery, in 1963, of the laser action on the vibrational-rotational transition
s of carbon dioxide
and his discovery, in 1964, of efficient vibrational energy transfer between molecule
s, led to a series of experiments which demonstrated that the carbon dioxide laser was capable of very high continuous-wave and pulsed power
output at very high conversion efficiencies.
Patel was later appointed as Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Los Angeles
, where he is also Professor of Physics.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton
awarded Patel the National Medal of Science
, "[f]or his fundamental contributions to quantum electronics and invention of the carbon dioxide laser, which have had significant impact on industrial, scientific, medical, and defense applications." In addition to the carbon dioxide laser, he also developed the "spin-flip" infrared Raman laser
.
Patel currently holds 36 U.S. patents relating to lasers and laser applications
. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering
and the National Academy of Science, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the American Physical Society
, the IEEE, the Optical Society of America
, the Laser Institute of America
, and the American Society of Laser Medicine.
Carbon dioxide laser
The carbon dioxide laser was one of the earliest gas lasers to be developed , and is still one of the most useful. Carbon dioxide lasers are the highest-power continuous wave lasers that are currently available...
in 1963; it is now widely used in industry for cutting and welding
Laser beam welding
Laser beam welding is a welding technique used to join multiple pieces of metal through the use of a laser. The beam provides a concentrated heat source, allowing for narrow, deep welds and high welding rates...
, as a laser scalpel
Laser scalpel
A laser scalpel is a scalpel for surgery, cutting or ablating living biological tissue by the energy of laser light. In soft tissue laser surgery, a laser beam ablates or vaporizes the soft tissue with high water content....
in surgery
Surgery
Surgery is an ancient medical specialty that uses operative manual and instrumental techniques on a patient to investigate and/or treat a pathological condition such as disease or injury, or to help improve bodily function or appearance.An act of performing surgery may be called a surgical...
, and in laser skin resurfacing. Because the atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention , and reducing temperature extremes between day and night...
is quite transparent to infrared light, CO2 laser
Laser
A laser is a device that emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of photons. The term "laser" originated as an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation...
s are also used for military rangefinding
Rangefinder
A rangefinder is a device that measures distance from the observer to a target, for the purposes of surveying, determining focus in photography, or accurately aiming a weapon. Some devices use active methods to measure ; others measure distance using trigonometry...
using LIDAR
LIDAR
LIDAR is an optical remote sensing technology that can measure the distance to, or other properties of a target by illuminating the target with light, often using pulses from a laser...
techniques.
Patel was born in Baramati
Baramati
Baramati is a city and a municipal council in Pune district in the state of Maharashtra, India.Agriculture is the main occupation of the people of Baramati. The main food crops grown include sugarcane, grapes, and cotton...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, and received a Bachelor of Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering
The Bachelor of Engineering is an undergraduate academic degree awarded to a student after three to five years of studying engineering at universities in Armenia, Australia, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Denmark, Egypt, Finland , Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Jordan, Korea,...
(B.E.) degree from the College of Engineering, the University of Pune, India and the M.S. and Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
in 1959 and 1961, respectively. Patel joined Bell Laboratories in 1961, and subsequently became Executive Director of the Research, Materials Science, Engineering and Academic Affairs Division at AT&T Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, New Jersey
Murray Hill, New Jersey
Murray Hill is an unincorporated area within portions of both Berkeley Heights and New Providence, located in Union County in northern New Jersey, United States....
, where he developed the carbon dioxide laser. Patel's discovery, in 1963, of the laser action on the vibrational-rotational transition
Rovibrational coupling
Rovibrational coupling is a coupled rotational and vibrational excitation of a molecule. It is different from rovibronic coupling, which involves a change in all of electronic, vibrational, and rotational states simultaneously....
s of carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring chemical compound composed of two oxygen atoms covalently bonded to a single carbon atom...
and his discovery, in 1964, of efficient vibrational energy transfer between molecule
Molecule
A molecule is an electrically neutral group of at least two atoms held together by covalent chemical bonds. Molecules are distinguished from ions by their electrical charge...
s, led to a series of experiments which demonstrated that the carbon dioxide laser was capable of very high continuous-wave and pulsed power
Power (physics)
In physics, power is the rate at which energy is transferred, used, or transformed. For example, the rate at which a light bulb transforms electrical energy into heat and light is measured in watts—the more wattage, the more power, or equivalently the more electrical energy is used per unit...
output at very high conversion efficiencies.
Patel was later appointed as Vice Chancellor for Research at the University of California, Los Angeles
University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public research university located in the Westwood neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, USA. It was founded in 1919 as the "Southern Branch" of the University of California and is the second oldest of the ten campuses...
, where he is also Professor of Physics.
In 1996, President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
awarded Patel the National Medal of Science
National Medal of Science
The National Medal of Science is an honor bestowed by the President of the United States to individuals in science and engineering who have made important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of behavioral and social sciences, biology, chemistry, engineering, mathematics and...
, "[f]or his fundamental contributions to quantum electronics and invention of the carbon dioxide laser, which have had significant impact on industrial, scientific, medical, and defense applications." In addition to the carbon dioxide laser, he also developed the "spin-flip" infrared Raman laser
Raman laser
The Raman laser is a byproduct of Raman scattering, discovered in 1928 by Nobel laureate Chandrasekhara Venkata Raman and Kariamanickam Srinivasa Krishnan in liquids and independently by Grigory Landsberg and Leonid Mandelshtam in crystals. When light hits a substance, it causes the atoms in the...
.
Patel currently holds 36 U.S. patents relating to lasers and laser applications
Laser applications
Many scientific, military, medical and commercial laser applications have been developed since the invention of the laser in the 1958. The coherency, high monochromaticity, and ability to reach extremely high powers are all properties which allow for these specialized applications.-Scientific:In...
. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering
National Academy of Engineering
The National Academy of Engineering is a government-created non-profit institution in the United States, that was founded in 1964 under the same congressional act that led to the founding of the National Academy of Sciences...
and the National Academy of Science, and a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
American Academy of Arts and Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and Sciences is an independent policy research center that conducts multidisciplinary studies of complex and emerging problems. The Academy’s elected members are leaders in the academic disciplines, the arts, business, and public affairs.James Bowdoin, John Adams, and...
, the American Association for the Advancement of Sciences, the American Physical Society
American Physical Society
The American Physical Society is the world's second largest organization of physicists, behind the Deutsche Physikalische Gesellschaft. The Society publishes more than a dozen scientific journals, including the world renowned Physical Review and Physical Review Letters, and organizes more than 20...
, the IEEE, the Optical Society of America
Optical Society of America
The Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...
, the Laser Institute of America
Laser Institute of America
Laser Institute of America is a professional society with a focus on laser use and laser safety. The Laser Institute of America was founded in 1968 and acts as secretariat and publisher of the American National Standards Institute Z136 laser safety standards .LIA is also the publisher of the...
, and the American Society of Laser Medicine.
External links
- IEEE History Center biography
- Frederic Ives Medal by the OSAOptical Society of AmericaThe Optical Society is a scientific society dedicated to advancing the study of light—optics and photonics—in theory and application, by means of publishing, organizing conferences and exhibitions, partnership with industry, and education. The organization has members in more than 100 countries...