5. Conclusion

The technological aptitude of femtosecond lasers is well established, as is their ability to access a large market. However, it takes time and technical expertise to develop efficient, economically competitive processes. Niche" industrial applications where femtosecond technology offers a significant competitive advantage will therefore continue to be the priority, but the field of applications remains wide open. As femtosecond technologies become more and more widely used, a growing number of professionals will be involved. As experts in their field, and on the lookout for new technological solutions, they are often the source of innovations specific to their field. The emergence of new, often unexpected applications is typical of the femtosecond field, and is therefore not likely to stop.

We have examined process development methods using efficient and rapid beam...