Return of the Laser Smackdown

Several weeks ago, I announced a contest to determine the Most Amazing Laser Application. Personal issues interrupted this, but I want to finish it out in honor of LaserFest Here's the list of finalists, with links to those already written up:

• Cat toy/ dog toy/ laser light show
• Laser cooling/ BEC
• Lunar laser ranging
• Optical tweezers
• Optical storage media (CD/DVD/Blu-Ray)
• LIGO
• Telecommunications
• Holography
• Laser ignited fusion
• Laser eye surgery
• Laser frequency comb/ spectroscopy
• Laser guide stars/ adaptive optics

I'll be writing up LIGO shortly, and will try to finish the whole thing as soon as possible given my other responsibilities.