A fantasy well-established in the collective culture
Even before the invention of the first laser in 1960, and when only a handful of specialists were aware of Einstein's prediction of stimulated emission (1917), the term “laser” was already well-known. In particular, numerous science-fiction writers had imagined an extremely powerful beam, capable of destroying anything in its path. These devices were generally controlled by aggressive intergalactic beings bent on wreaking havoc on the world.
For example, in 1898, H.G. Wells describes in his book “The War of the Worlds” a “fiery ray” impressively similar to modern day lasers:
« It was as if they were hit by an invisible ray that exploded into white fire on impact. Suddenly, it seemed they were all turned to flame, and I stood there stupefied, unable to comprehend that it was death that leaped from one man to another (...) I only had the impression that it was something very strange, this silent jet of light that knocked down everything it touched, and when this invisible line passed over them, even the pine trees and the bushes burst into flame with a deafening sound... »
The “fiery ray” described by H.G. Wells is the incarnation of the absolute weapon: fired out of a vibrating funnel, a narrow ray straight as a rod sweeps over the surrounding countryside destroying everything in its path. It is hardly surprising that this fantasy of ultimate power (a “death ray” that quickly and “cleanly” kills the potential target from afar) was extremely popular during the first half of the 20th century and when the research scientist T.
Maiman announced that he had developed an actual prototype, there was a huge overreaction.
The public were carried away by the discovery: even the most serious scientific commentators waxed lyrical about the myth that had become a reality. M. Friedman (Science et Avenir) wrote:
« When this shining light bursts forth from the centre of a stimulated ruby, the Academy of Sciences is just as surprised as the rest of us. It seems that austere physics has joined with seductive alchemy (...) In the heart of every crystal there sleeps a ray of light: this simple phrase is linked to so many myths and legends that people are burning with anticipation to see finally with their own eyes a beam that leaves blackened soil in its wake, the indispensable “death ray” that has made science fiction what it is today. »
The demonstration of stimulated emission at the Hughes Laboratory in Malibu, California, was described enthusiastically by journalists: « Suddenly a light from hell appeared in the middle of the ruby. Then, from the end of a cylinder, a hundred thousand times brighter than the sun, burst forth a thin red light, a perfectly parallel monochromatic beam (...) Theodore Maiman and his assistants were silent for some time, enthralled by the beauty of this spectacle, the like of which no-one had ever seen before. 'Einstein was right' he murmured, 'light can be concentrated and coherent' ». In reality, Maiman had only observed a slight shrinking of the fluorescent spectrum, one of the effects of lasers, but much less spectacular for the layman.