%A Hernández, Luis %D 2011 %T Half a Century after the Construction of the First Laser %B 2011 %9 %! Half a Century after the Construction of the First Laser %K %X This paper remembers the 50 years of the €rst ruby laser which was built by T. H. Maiman. I shortly introduce the history of the main physical ideas resulting in its creation. In particular, I explain how a laser works, with emphasis in a rubi laser. I €nally explain the practical importance of lasers in daily life, and its probable future uses. %U https://revistacubanadefisica.org/index.php/rcf/article/view?path= %J Revista Cubana de Física %0 Journal Article %& 73 %P 4 %V 28 %N 1 %@ 2224-7939 %8 2011-08-10 %7 2011-06-11