Synopsis

When lasers were first conceived eighteen years ago, they were often described as "a solution searching for a problem"—no one could readily envision their application. Yet, research scientists immediately recognized the potential of their precise beams and remarkable ability to focus. Today, lasers have blossomed into a billion-dollar industry, finding use in construction, manufacturing, textiles, dentistry, and medicine. And the future promises even greater significance, with lasers poised to p