Who founded the theory of stimulated emission?

The theory of stimulated emission was indeed founded by Albert Einstein. In 1917, he proposed the concept in a paper that laid the groundwork for understanding how lasers operate. Einstein introduced the idea that an excited atom can be induced to emit a photon by an incoming photon of a specific wavelength—this process is what we refer to as stimulated emission. This fundamental principle is not only crucial to the operation of lasers but also significantly impacts fields such as quantum mechanics and solid-state physics.

The other choices do not align with the historical development of this theory. George Bush, as a political figure, did not contribute to the scientific basis of stimulated emission. Charles Towns is known for his role in developing masers and lasers, but he built on Einstein's foundational work rather than founding the theory itself. The option "None of the above" does not apply, as Einstein's contributions are well-documented and pivotal in this context.