Optics was considered the most basic of the natural sciences by many early thinkers and natural philosophers. For more than 3000 years, human attempts to comprehend vision and the nature of light have been at the frontline of intellectual pursuits. The study of optics in Western and Islamic civilizations helps to comprehend these nations' intellectual development. Theodore Maiman presented the first functioning laser on May 16, 1960 and lasers have grown into a multibillion-dollar business since then. Optical storage systems such as DVD and CD players use a semiconductor laser less than a millimeter wide to scan the surface of the disc, which is by far the most common use of lasers. Fiber-optic communication is the second-largest application of lasers. Lasers are utilized in a variety of scientific applications, of which laser spectroscopy is one of the most popular, since it takes use of the laser's well-defined wavelength or the ability to generate extremely brief light pulses. The military use lasers for rangefinding, target identification and illumination. Lasers are now being utilized as directed-energy weapons as well. In medicine, lasers are utilized for surgery, diagnosis and therapeutic purposes, especially in dermatology. The biological impacts and therapeutic potential of laser beams were initially studied by dermatologists and ophthalmologists. The development of novel laser systems that produce energy at various wavelengths or for varied periods, as well as new biological effects ideas, led to widespread usage of lasers in treatment of vascular and pigmented lesions, as well as aesthetic treatments and hair and tattoo removal.
