30, 20, and 10 Years Ago in OPN

“Recent advances in ultrashort-pulse generation techniques suggest that a new ultrashort-pulse laser technology can be developed for solid-state laser sources. These new laser systems will achieve superior performance and have reduced cost and complexity compared to traditional dye laser technology … Low-cost and compact short-pulse laser sources would have a profound impact on ultrashort-phenomena research and would also make possible the commercial and systems applications of high-speed optics.”