Iran holds 1st fully domestic laser exhibit

Tehran is hosting an exhibition of Laser Science and Technology Achievements to show the latest advances by Iranian scientists in the field, PressTV reported.

The display, which includes high-tech laser instruments made by young Iranian researchers, is the first show of its kind in the country.

Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad took part in the opening ceremony and visited the collection of domestic technologies.

The venue sponsored by Iran's National Center For Laser Science and Technology aimed to exhibit devices that are totally designed and manufactured in the country.

"Today we admit with pride that scientists and researchers of our country are in the vanguard of laser science," Mr. Ahmadinejad said during the opening ceremony of the exhibit.

According to Iran's laser center, the country started localizing the technology only three years ago, yet has managed to take considerable steps in it.

"The government and the president are supporting us. We are able to produce a wide range of lasers in demand within the country in medical and industrial fields," Jamshid Sabbaghzadeh, head of Iran's National Laser Center told Press TV reporter.

"Focused laser, a source of intense radiation of the visible, ultraviolet, or infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum is used to fragment kidney stones," he said.

"Optic fiber laser is commonly used in medicine and industries like welding. The laser radiation interaction with tissues can be effectively used for specialties of eye, skin, and cancer," said Sabbaghzadeh.

The name, Ali Javan rings a bell in the minds of those involved in the science of laser. The Iranian physicist was co-inventor of the gas laser along with William Bennett in 1960.

Javan also conducted the first telephone conversation ever to be transmitted by laser beam in 1960. Now almost 40 years later, laser telecommunication via fiber optics is commonplace and known to be the key technology used in today's Internet.