Charles Townes

Charles Hard Townes (born July 28, 1915) is an American physicist and educator. Townes is known for his work on the theory and application of the maser, on which he obtained the fundamental patent, and other work in quantum electronics connected with both maser and laser devices. He received a B.A and B.S. from Furman University and a M.A. from Duke University

Awards

Townes has been widely recognised for his scientific work and leadership.

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• He was awarded in 1961 David Sarnoff Electronics Award given by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the 1961 Rumford Medal awarded by the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
• He received the 1962 John Carty Award given by the National Academy of Science.
• He shared the 1964 Nobel Prize in Physics with N. G. Basov and Aleksandr Prokhorov for contributions to this field.
• In 1979 he was awarded the Niels Bohr international medal awarded for contributions to the peaceful use of atomic energy.
• In 1980 Townes was inducted by his home state into the South Carolina Hall of Science and Technology, and has also been awarded a South Carolina Hall of Science and Technology Citation.
• He received the 1982 National Medal of Science, presented by President Ronald Regan.
• In 1998 he was awarded the Henry Norris Russell Lectureship by the American Astronomical Society.
• In 2005 he was awarded the "Templeton Prize for Progress Toward Research or Discoveries about Spiritual Realities".
• He has also been awarded the LeConte Medallion.