The Region - News from Feb. 16, 1987

Theodore Maiman of Marina del Rey, considered the father of laser technology, is among the winners of the third annual Japan Prizes in science and technology, the prize foundation has announced in Tokyo. He will share in the $326,000 in prize money to be distributed to him and two scientists who developed disease-resistant rice strains. The prizes, to be awarded at an April 14 ceremony in Tokyo, are given for achievements that contribute to peace and prosperity. Maiman, foundation officials said, developed the ruby laser, a highly focused and intense laser beam, in the 1960s at a time when scientists believed ruby systems would not work. It is “so practical it still is being used today,” the officials added, and the achievement triggered development of a number of successive lasers used in fields ranging from medicine to telecommunications.