{"id":9842,"date":"2025-01-24T08:29:24","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T06:29:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uat.safelaser.hu\/karoly-rozsa-the-legendary-laser-physicist\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T17:47:22","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T17:47:22","slug":"karoly-rozsa-the-legendary-laser-physicist","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/safelaser.hu\/en\/karoly-rozsa-the-legendary-laser-physicist\/","title":{"rendered":"K\u00e1roly R\u00f3zsa \u2013 the Legendary Laser Physicist"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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1939-2017<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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“Wherever I was, I always felt a sense of comfort knowing I had a homeland. I believe that if I hadn\u2019t studied in Hungarian, if I hadn\u2019t thought in Hungarian, I wouldn\u2019t have achieved as much. The entire way of thinking, the logic, the structure of the Hungarian language\u2014it’s something truly remarkable, something we don\u2019t fully appreciate.” <\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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One of the pioneers and key figures in laser research in Hungary, whose scientific work is marked by more than 200 publications.<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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He played an undeniably decisive role in ensuring that, since the construction of Hungary’s first laser in 1964, Hungarian laser research has remained among the world leaders over the past sixty years. In addition to fundamental research, he always considered it important that the results of his scientific work improve and benefit people\u2019s everyday lives. This mindset guided him in the early 2010s when he invented a way to tame laser light by eliminating its eye-hazardous properties \u2014 leading to the creation of Safe Laser Technology, which revolutionized low-level laser therapy. <\/p>

He studied chemical engineering but spent more than fifty years conducting research in the field of physics. Besides his family, the Central Research Institute for Physics (KFKI) was his second home, where, alongside optical experiments, he focused primarily on laser research. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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He was born in Budapest in the year World War II broke out. He lost his parents during childhood and was raised in the countryside by his maternal grandparents, who had relocated from Transylvania. <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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In the 1950s, despite the disadvantages he faced due to his background, his outstanding academic achievements earned him admission to the Petrik Lajos Secondary School of Chemical Industry. \u201cI was fortunate to have excellent teachers, and I\u2019m grateful that I had the opportunity to learn physics and chemistry from nationally renowned instructors like Tibor Papp,\u201d he recalled in an interview. <\/p>

After graduating from high school, he began working as a chemical technician at a paint factory. The turning point in his life came thanks to Tibor M\u00e1trai, who encouraged him to apply to university after he joined the KFKI (Central Research Institute for Physics). He completed his degree in Chemical Engineering at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics through evening classes while continuing to work at KFKI\u2014a place to which he always remained loyal.
As a researcher and visiting professor, he collaborated with some of the world\u2019s most prominent physicists in the United States, Japan, Australia, Canada, Austria, and the Soviet Union. Although he felt at home wherever he went, he always loved returning to Hungary. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t

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\"Wherever I was, I was always filled with a good feeling knowing that I have a homeland\"<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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“I believe that if I hadn\u2019t learned and thought in Hungarian, I would have achieved less. The entire mindset, the logic, the structure of the Hungarian language\u2014it’s something truly wonderful, something we don\u2019t even fully appreciate.” -he often explained this to his students, though he never boasted to them that he had learned English perfectly in just one year\u2014practically from a dictionary. <\/p>

Alongside laser research and his family, sports played a major role in his life. In his youth, he played volleyball; later, sailing, skiing, and hiking became his main passions\u2014he taught more than a hundred people how to sail. He didn\u2019t consider himself particularly talented in sports, but he was legendary for his ability to concentrate, which he put to great use in table tennis: he was over 70 years old and still playing for the KFKI team. <\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Scientific Research and Fields of Study <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t1963 \u2013 At the Spectroscopy Department, he began acquiring expertise in optical spectroscopy, vacuum technology, and gas discharge processes while researching the spectra of diatomic molecules. These early research experiences led him to initiate gas laser investigations \u2014 a field he remained dedicated to for the rest of his life. <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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  • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tHe was the first to produce a laser effect in hollow cathode discharges with adjustable voltage.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    University Thesis <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    He-Ne gas laser technology and spectral analysis.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Doctoral Dissertation (PhD) <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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    Laser Spectroscopy<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Gas Discharges Developed for Laser Applications<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    Research on Far-Ultraviolet Lasers Generated in Gas Discharges Developed for Laser Applications<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

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    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tSoviet Union: Lebedev Physical Institute, Moscow<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
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    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJapan: Institute of Ion Physics, Ibaraki University; Nagoya University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tAustralia: Monash University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCanada: McMaster University<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
    • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tUSA: University of Arizona; University of New Mexico \u2013 Los Alamos National Laboratory; Colorado State University; JILA (University of Colorado and NIST) <\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
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      Patents <\/div><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/rect><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/summary>\n\t\t\t\t
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      • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThree patents on gas laser constructions<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
      • \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/path>\t<\/path><\/g><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOne patent on polarized light lamp (design and application) \u2013 co-owner of the Bioptron lamp patent<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        He<\/em> performed the first successful polarized-light therapeutic treatment under the supervision of Dr. Katalin Csizmadia.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/details>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t