The Laser

Academician Nikola Sabotinov was born in Burgas in 1941. He graduated in radio-physics and electronics in 1967 at the Faculty of Physics of Sofia University "Kliment Ohridski". His MA thesis is the first one in the field of laser physics in Bulgaria. In 1967 he became a research assistant in gas lasers at the Institute of Physics of the Bulgarian Ири^— —Academy of Sciences (BAS). He was consecutively awarded ™"PhD degree (1976) and DSc degree in physics (1992) at the Institute of Solid State Physics (ISSP) of BAS, and became Professor at the same Institute in 1993. Since 2003 he has been appointed as an Academician.

His scientific interests are in the fields of quantum electronics, laser physics, laser technologies, gas discharge lasers, metal vapor lasers, plasma physics and optics. Since 1970, he set the beginning of research in the field of metal vapor lasers in Bulgaria. He also founded and led the Laboratory of Metal Vapor Lasers at the ISSP of BAS. His most significant achievements, which have found worldwide application in science and practice, are:

The invention, theoretical and experimental research of copper bromide vapor laser and its introduction in industrial production in Bulgaria and abroad (Australia, USA, South Korea);

The discovery of the strong effect of hydrogen in copper halide vapor lasers, which increases their power and efficiency by more than twice;

The invention of a spiral hollow cathode for excitation of ion-discharge lasers.

He led one of the first scientific projects under the European Framework Programs in Bulgaria - FP 4 (two projects) and the NATO Science for Peace and Security Program (two projects).

His scientific output includes 380 publications, 4 monographs and 30 patents. His works have been cited over 1400 times in the world scientific literature.

He is a member of the Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers (SPIE) -USA, of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) - Laser and Electro-Optics Section - USA, of the Optical Society of America (OSA), of the Union of Scientists in Bulgaria and the Union of Physicists in Bulgaria.

For his remarkable inventive activity in Bulgaria and abroad, he was inscribed in the Golden Book of Bulgarian Inventors; he was awarded the Honorary Inventor distinction, the Order of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, as well as many international and international honors and awards.

He held the positions of Vice-President of BAS from 1996 to 2008 and President of BAS from 2008 to 2012.