About Us
During the last few decades, Lasers have emerged as the most innovative tool, having wide ranging applications starting from the very common supermarket bar code readers to the highly advanced systems such as nuclear fusion systems for power generation, directed energy weapon in an antimissile role. There is hardly any sphere of our life, which is untouched by Lasers. A common man encounters Lasers not only in light shows, but also with the beauticians, eye specialists, orthopedists, to sight a few. The importance of lasers was recognized immediately in India after its invention in the early sixties and few research institutions like Bhaba Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Mumbai, Defence Science Laboratory, now called Laser Science and Technology Centre (LASTEC), Delhi; initiated Laser research in a modest way. However, in the recent years, there has been tremendous growth in research activities not only in National research institutions but also in academic institutions like IITs and Universities. While institutions like Centre for Advanced Technologies (CAT) and LASTEC have been pursuing high power Laser research work, many academic institutions have started MSc / M Tech courses in Lasers where both theoretical as well as practical training is imparted to the students at a very high level. National and International Laser symposiums and conferences are being organized on a regular basis.
Though lot of efforts are being made to bring India at par with the developed countries in the area of Lasers, yet at the college level, more than 90 % of the science students even at their postgraduate level are hardly aware of Lasers and their potentials. Many university departments in USA, UK, Germany, France etc have dedicated web sites related to Lasers under their education program. In India hardly any institution has such a site. So it was felt that there should be a dedicated site for lasers, which will be extremely useful especially in the Indian context. This site on one hand would create more awareness about lasers among graduate and postgraduate students, yet would also be extremely useful for scientists, technologists, engineers and application specialists in the area of medicine, material processing etc.
This non-profit free site is a focal point of free information being hosted by Dr. M. Premasundaran and Dr. A. L. Dawar who are retired DRDO scientists.
Dr. M.Premasundaran
...joined Defence Science Laboratory (now known as Laser Science & Technology Centre) of Defence Research & Development Organisation in 1966. He did his Ph.D from University of Hull, U.K. in the area of Lasers under commonwealth fellowship. During his tenure of more than 30 years, he has worked on the development of various type of solid state of lasers and combustion driven gas dynamic laser. He has 36 publications in reputed journals & monograph on "High Power Lasers & Their Applications" to his credit. He retired as Scientist G from LASTEC.
Dr. A.L. Dawar
...joined Defence Science Laboratory (now LASTEC) DRDO in 1968. He obtained his Ph.D in 1974 from Delhi University and did his post-doc research work at University of Newcastle upon Tyne and University of Glasgow during 1974-75 and 1983-84. During his research career, he has worked in the area of development of high power chemical oxy-iodine lasers, laser applications, integrated optics and thin films. He has more than 100 publications in international journals & a book on "Semiconducting Transparent Thin Films" to his credit. He retired as Scientist G from LASTEC.
Since considerable work is involved in making this site meaningful, we would be seeking the help of other retired laser scientists as well as the dynamic and enthusiastic working scientists. We would also seek advice from the Laser specialists in the country and use their valuable inputs to shape this site in a way that it can serve the purpose for which it is meant for.