You are here: Home :: Area NEM :: Chemistry :: Physical chemistry

D. Röß

Laser is an example of how new markets are created by breakthroughs in basic research. The time development of important research contributions and of product ideas is described, as well as the personal background of A. L. Schawlow, one of the pioneers in both areas. A Learning Curve of Research is postulated, in analogy to the well known learning curve of production. It is characterized by the accumulated knowledge of the scientific leaders in the retrospectively defined field, and by the uncertainty of the first product concept, both as a function of time. In case of the LASER, basic research knowledge accumulated rather slowly over a period of 34 years, followed by 10 years of extremely fast growth, during which an outsider had little chance to become one of the pioneers. This science-based breakthrough demonstrates, that major research-based innovations take several decades, and that they are sufficiently random to be evolutionary rather than open to goal-setting and planning.

Zeitschrift für Physikalische Chemie, Oldenbourg Wissenschaftsverlag

Print ISSN: 0942-9352
Volume: 215, 12/2001
Pages: 1487

Journal homepage (external site)

Show all available items of this journal

 

Area NEM