title: History of quantum electronics at the Moscow Lebedev and General Physics Institutes: Nikolaj Basov and Alexander Prokhorov.
abstract: Some moments of maser and laser history in the Soviet Union are outlined, commemorating the work of Nikolaj G. Basov and Alexander M. Prokhorov, who, together with Charles H. Townes, were awarded the 1964 Nobel Prize "for fundamental work in the field of quantum electronics, which has led to the construction of oscillators and amplifiers based on the maser-laser principle."
authors.affiliation: A.M. Prokhorov General Physics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,38 Vavilov Street, Moscow 119991, Russia.
authors.forename: N V
authors.initials: NV
authors.lastname: Karlov
authors.forename: O N
authors.initials: ON
authors.lastname: Krokhin
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Lukishova