LeGrand Van Uitert (May 8, 1922 in Salt Lake City – June 3, 1999 in Morristown, New Jersey) was an American scientist who co-invented the first continuous beam optical MASER, now known as a laser, using a synthetic rare-earth doped garnet crystal.
In 1964, Van Uitert, Joseph E. Geusic, and H. W. Marcos demonstrated lasing in Nd-Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Nd:YAG), which would become the dominant solid state laser.
Van Uitert remained at Bell Labs for his entire career, as an active research scientist as he was promoted to Supervisor, Solid-State Materials Synthesis Group.
[5] Van Uitert was supported in his research by Assistant Member of Technical Staff, George John Zydzik, listed as a co-inventor on 17 patents from 1976 to 1991.
[7] In 1981, Van Uitert was elected a Member of the National Academy of Engineering,[8] Also in 1981, Van Uitert was awarded the James N. McGroddy Award for New Materials by the American Physical Society “for the discovery and development of a series of materials of fundamental significance in magnetic and optical technologies, including Microwave Ferrites, Garnets for bubble domain memory devices, and lasers, Orthovanadate phosphors, Niobates and Molybdates for electroptical devices and Borosilicate glasses for optical wave guides.