History of Science and Engineering Annotation << Back From the history of laser physics of 60?ies in Quantum Radiophysics Laboratory of the P.N. Lebedev Institute. V.S.Zuev Some events in the hystory of 1963–1969 of the Quantum radiophysics laboratory of the P.N.Lebedev Physical Institute are presented in the part that concerns huge lasers. Iodine photodissociation lasers with pumping by radiation of an explosively driven shock wave and an open high current discharge is presented. The properties of the most effective regime of the action of such a laser are described. In such a regime pumping sources are immerged into a laser medium without any envelopes. The velocity of the source expansion exceeds the velocity of the photodissociation wave. Experimental results are reported. They coincide with those predicted. A laser of 1 million joules pulse is described. Key words: quantum radio-physics, photo-dissociation laser, explosion pumping, high current discharge, photo-dissociation wave, radiating shock wave e-mail: vizuev@sci.lebedev.ru