Final answer:
A laser stands for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, and T. H. Maiman built the first one in 1960. Using a ruby rod and a flash lamp, he created a device that produced coherent red light, leading to advances in various fields and Nobel Prizes for key contributors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term laser is an acronym for light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation, which describes the process of amplifying light by energizing photons to emit more photons of the same phase and wavelength, resulting in a coherent light beam. The concept traces back to Albert Einstein's theoretical foundations, which eventually translated into practical application with the aid of advances in quantum physics. In 1960, T. H. Maiman constructed the first functional laser at Hughes Research labs, using a ruby rod and a pulsed high-powered flash lamp to create red light.
The creation and development of lasers have played a pivotal role in various fields and resulted in Nobel Prizes awarded to prominent scientists like Charles Townes, Nikolay Basov, Aleksandr Prokhorov for their work in the development of lasers, and to Arthur Schawlow for laser applications.