View from the top: Laser technology: Its evolution into the marketplace: The search for coherent radiation at higher frequencies has spawned a lucrative commercial and military world market

Four phases in the development of laser technology are distinguished. These are the technology birth phase (1954-74), the engineering development phase (1974-84), the manufacturing technology phase (present), and the mature technology phase (future). It is predicted that the last will be characterized by low manufacturing cost, high production volume (economy of scale), and capital intensive manufacturing plants. Eventually a few large surviving manufacturers-not necessarily the ones known to us today-will address the most important makers. It is pointed out that the most serious challenge laser technology faces is the continuing shortage of electro-optical engineers to develop the numerous products and to advance the state of the art to meet the new product needs.