Recent developments in laser material processing

First research in laser technology had been initiated at the beginning of 60th of the last century. Since then great achievements had been gained in different laser types development, understanding of laser beams interaction with matter, simulation of the processes, development of wide range of operations of material processing and different devices to monitor the working conditions. In spite of unique results obtained in very short historic period this dynamic technology has still a lot of problems to be solved. Lasers itself had to be more efficient transformers of energy, the range of wavelength had to be broaden both in far infrared region and to near ultra violet and X-ray fields. Laser systems must be more compact and versatile, equipped with the whole variety of control and monitoring devices for the processing. Still needs the solution the problem of development the fast and precise techniques for non-destruction testing of processing results. As nearest and further prospects in laser technology it is possible already to expect the advent of more sophisticated type of laser with possibilities to change in wide range both wavelength of radiation and duration of the pulses. It will be simpler to get very short and ultra short pulses and to use them for the realization of different processes based on material ablation. High power CW highly efficient laser will be developed and implemented into industry. Many new hybrid laser processing may appear with wide integration of information technologies. The main goal in further laser processing development will be the achievement of higher quality of the product at possibly lower cost, improvement in maintaining of the laser systems and increasing their reliability.