Nobel Prize in Physics in 1981 2026-10-18
Nicolaas Bloembergen and Arthur Leonard Schawlow received one quarter each for developing laser spectroscopy. Kai Manne Börje Siegbahn received one half for developing high-resolution electron spectroscopy.[ref]
The Nobel Prize in Physics 1981 by Nobel Prize Outreach. Individual 1981 record reproduced in laser-physics lecture slides: Bloembergen and Schawlow one-quarter each, laser spectroscopy; Siegbahn one-half, electron spectroscopy. Official individual Siegbahn facts independently confirms his half and distinct motivation.