Samuel E. Blum
Samuel E. Blum | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date |
| Died | January 9, 2013 (aged 92) |
| Occupation | Scientist |
| Known for | Co-inventor of the ultraviolet excimer laser |
Samuel E. Blum (born August 28, 1920 – died January 9, 2013) was an American scientist with expertise in both chemistry and physics, focusing on semiconductor materials. His professional career included research positions at the Battelle Memorial Institute located in Columbus, Ohio and subsequently at the IBM Watson Research Center, from which he retired in 1990.
Blum is renowned for his role as a co-inventor of the patent covering the ultraviolet excimer laser, a technology that plays a vital role in medical fields such as surgery and dentistry, particularly in LASIK (laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis) procedures for vision correction. His fellow inventors were chemist Rangaswamy Srinivasan and physicist James J. Wynne. The patent was submitted in December 1982 and granted in November 1988, forming the foundation for laser technology that has enabled millions to attain 20/20 eyesight without the need for glasses or contact lenses.
In recognition of this groundbreaking work, Blum was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2002, received the R. W. Wood Prize from the Optical Society of America in 2004, and was honored with the distinguished Russ Prize from the National Academy of Engineering in 2013 alongside Srinivasan and Wynne.