Jubilee Scientific Session “From the Idea to the Industrial Product”
Fifty years since the development of the copper bromide vapour laser by Acad. Nikola Sabotinov were celebrated at a scientific session at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences. Acad. Nikola Sabotinov’s idea of creating a low-temperature copper laser in Bulgaria was realized in 1974 when under his leadership at the Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP) a copper bromide vapour laser was launched and recognized as the invention of the year in 1979. In order to improve its characteristics, a number of theoretical and experimental studies had been carried out, and the effect of hydrogen was discovered. Thus, the most powerful entirely Bulgarian gas laser generating in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum was created which was patented in Bulgaria, France, USA, UK, Germany, Japan and Australia.
The event is a good example for young people who should be confident in their abilities, said in his presentation Acad. Sabotinov who thanked his team and stressed that in Bulgaria, too, world-class scientific developments were being created.
During the solemn celebration, Acad. Nikola Sabotinov presented the scientific research, experiments and difficulties in the realization of lasers. He told about the beginning of the international cooperation of the “Metal vapour lasers” laboratory of the ISSP and the interest of famous world scientists in the development. Patents are a key point of the innovation process, said Acad. Sabotinov and pointed out that there were more than 205 scientific publications on this topic. The obtained scientific results are highly appreciated by the international scientific community and find a place in world science and in university educational programs, the scientist said and gave the example of Oxford University in the UK and Ibaraki University in Japan.
The copper bromide vapour laser reached its commercial development first in Bulgaria. Today it is produced by the Bulgarian company Pulslight and by the companies Norseld in Australia and Bison in the Republic of Korea. It is used in medicine, in industry for precision materials processing, in laser location and navigation, for laser displays, for seawater research and for other research.
At the celebration ceremony at BAS, greetings on behalf of the leadership of the Academy were presented the Vice Presidents of the Academy, Corr. Memb. Stefan Hadjitodorov and Corr. Memb. Evdokia Pasheva. The invention and creation of the copper bromide vapour laser is a great example of how products can be created in Bulgaria to serve society, said Corr. Memb. Hadjitodorov.
On behalf of President Rumen Radev, a congratulatory address was read out, in which he noted that the remarkable development created under the leadership of Acad. Sabotinov’s – the invention of the copper bromide vapour laser – is a leading example proving the unparalleled ability of Bulgarian scientists to overcome boundaries.
Congratulations were extended by the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Innovation and Growth, the Faculty of Physics of SU “St. Kliment Ohridski”, the Union of Physicists in Bulgaria, representatives of employers and scientific organizations, and business.
The Director of the Institute of Solid State Physics Assoc. Prof. Ekaterina Iordanova handed over to Acad. Nikola Sabotinov a “Plaquette on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the invention and launch of the copper bromide vapour laser” special award on behalf of the Institute. The award is also for the organization of the overall scientific activity and development of the laser and its introducing into production in Bulgaria and abroad.
The scientific session featured presentations by the scientists involved in the creation of the prototype who spoke about the application of the copper bromide vapor laser, the development and prospects of laser technology. A specially arranged exhibition at the Academy shows the whole cycle of physical research and development as well as exhibits of the lasers produced today by the companies Pulslight, Norseld and Bison.
photos: Mariya Sabotinova
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