Fritz Peter Schäfer (15 January 1931 – 25 April 2011) was a German physicist, born inHersfeld,Hesse-Nassau. He is the co-inventor of theorganic dye laser.[1][2] His book,Dye Lasers, is considered a classic in the field oftunable lasers. In this book the chapter written by Schäfer gives an ample and insightful exposition on organic laser dye molecules in addition to a description on the physics of telescopic,[3] and multiple-prism,[4] tunable narrow-linewidth laser oscillators.
In their original experiment Schäfer and colleagues[5] employed aruby laser to optically excite various infraredorganic dyes. These dyes emitted laser radiation in the 731-835 nm range. Schäferet al. achieved high power outputs at a bandwidth of approximately 10 nm. Schäfer also experimented with laser dyes in the vapor phase under optical excitation.[6]
In addition to his pioneering work on the dye laser, Schäfer also made important contributions to femtosecond lasers[7][8] and the application of these lasers in plasma physics.[9][10]
^Szatmári, S.; Schäfer, F.P.; Müller-Horsche, E.; Müchenheim, W. (1987). "Hybrid dye-excimer laser system for the generation of 80 fs, 900 GW pulses at 248 nm".Optics Communications.63 (5). Elsevier BV:305–309.Bibcode:1987OptCo..63..305S.doi:10.1016/0030-4018(87)90181-7.ISSN0030-4018.
^Teubner, U.; Bergmann, J.; van Wonterghem, B.; Schäfer, F. P.; Sauerbrey, R. (1993-02-08). "Angle-dependent x-ray emission and resonance absorption in a laser-produced plasma generated by a high intensity ultrashort pulse".Physical Review Letters.70 (6). American Physical Society (APS):794–797.Bibcode:1993PhRvL..70..794T.doi:10.1103/physrevlett.70.794.ISSN0031-9007.PMID10054205.
