The 50th anniversary commemoration conference and academic conference of the birth of laser, jointly sponsored by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the China Academy of Engineering Physics, was held in Mianyang.

Zhou Ji, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, Jiang Mianheng, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Feng Changgen, Secretary of the Secretariat of the China Association for Science and Technology, Zhao Xiangeng, President of the China Academy of Engineering Physics, and Du Xiangwan, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Experts and scholars from major research institutes and universities in the field of laser technology research in China gathered together to review the important achievements in the 50-year process of laser technology progress and look forward to the future cutting-edge development trends. Zhou Ji, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, delivered a speech at the commemorative conference

Zhou Ji pointed out that laser is one of the most important scientific and technological achievements of the 20th century and another major invention of mankind after atomic energy, computers and semiconductors. Over the past 50 years, the rapid development of lasers has not only enabled the ancient optical science and optical technology to achieve essential innovation and development, but also, with the widespread application of laser technology, has driven technological progress in many fields and the emergence of emerging industries.

In his speech, Jiang Mianheng focused on the 50-year history of laser research at the Chinese Academy of Sciences since the successful development of my country's first ruby laser at the Changchun Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics in September 1961. Jiang Mianheng emphasized that laser is the product of continuous innovation from scientific thought to science and technology, has made great contributions to social and economic development, and has become inseparable from human life. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has deployed "laser science and technology" as a key technology field in the Innovation 2050 Science and Technology Roadmap and the Innovation 2020 Plan.

Zhao Xiangeng introduced the scientific and technological innovation and scientific research management experience of the China Academy of Engineering Physics in the research of fusion-level high-power laser drivers and ultra-short and ultra-intense laser technology, and achieved major breakthroughs. He also proposed to strengthen the strong alliance with the superior units in the laser field to build a national scientific research team with competitive advantages.

In his conference report entitled "Some Inspirations from Fifty Years of Laser", Du Xiangwan summarized the four inspirations brought by the development of laser to the scientific and technological community: First, science has no borders, and the scientific laws that reflect objective truth will eventually become the consensus of the scientific community of various countries and become "similar views"; second, new concepts, new ideas and new technologies are strategic commanding heights; third, to achieve something of great significance to society, it requires the combination and interaction of basic research and engineering technology; fourth, demand traction and technology promotion can become a positive feedback chain. When talking about the future development of laser technology, Du Xiangwan pointed out that in order to make laser more and more popular, laser development should be raised to a newer and higher level through cross-application in physics, chemistry, materials, biology, agriculture, information technology and other fields.

After the conference, Chen Jiaer, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, gave the first special report, introducing "the current status and development trend of free electron lasers", which kicked off the two-day academic report meeting on the 50th anniversary of the birth of lasers.