1962 · Optics · Invention
Romania’s helium-neon laser
Ion Agârbiceanu and the IFA laser team
The idea
A team led by Ion Agârbiceanu brought Romania’s first laser into operation in 1962.
The Măgurele team built a helium-neon laser as Romania developed its own experimental laser capabilities. IFIN-HH dates the achievement to 1962. The national milestone belongs to the history of laser engineering; it is not a claim that Romania invented the gas laser worldwide.