In what year was the theory of lasers published?

The theory of lasers was published in 1956. This foundational work, which laid the groundwork for laser technology, was primarily attributed to physicist Arthur Leonard Schawlow and his colleague Charles Townes. They described a method for generating coherent light through stimulated emission, which ultimately led to the development of lasers. This research was crucial as it introduced the concept of using optical amplification to produce highly focused and coherent beams of light, marking a significant advancement in the field of optics and photonics. Understanding this timeline is essential, as it highlights the progression of laser technology and its subsequent applications across various fields, such as telecommunications, medicine, and manufacturing.