title: Lasers: the first fifty years.
abstract: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the invention of the laser. The Optical Society of America is publishing this feature issue to celebrate this auspicious birthday.
authors.affiliation: The Institute of Optics, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York 14627, USA. boydrw@mac.com
authors.forename: Robert W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Boyd
authors.forename: Ravindra
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Athale
authors.forename: Levent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Onural
authors.forename: Wolf
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Seka