Lasers: Making Photons

Photonics Spectra Editors

The front lines for the laser wars have traditionally been the research laboratories, where scientists and engineers have developed new generations of technical solutions for traditional scientific and industrial customers. The new battles, however, are taking place in boardrooms, as chief executive officers wrestle with allocating internal resources -- people, money, space and time.

At many companies, the multibillion-dollar communications market is attracting those resources from other, more traditional (but less obviously lucrative) areas. Wall Street's interests -- at least until the late-2000 stock market downturn -- have pushed CEOs to rethink their strategies...