Laser technology

Laser technology during the 20th century is reviewed emphasizing the laser’s evolution from science to technology and subsequent contributions of laser technology to science. As the century draws to a close, lasers are making strong contributions to communications, materials processing, data storage, image recording, medicine, and defense. Examples from these areas demonstrate the stunning impact of laser light on our society. Laser advances are helping to generate new science as illustrated by several examples in physics and biology. Free-electron lasers used for materials processing and laser accelerators are described as developing laser technologies for the next century.