Forty years (1983–2023) with LAPD and for its future evolution

Abstract

Abstract This article is divided into two parts; namely, the first part describes how the series of Laser-aided plasma diagnostics (LAPD) symposia was conceived and has gradually evolved into the present form during the past four decades, and the second part shows the main focus of the meetings to gradually converge into the `cross-fertilizations' with other fields of science and engineering as the raison d'etre of the LAPD symposia, which is explained using outputs of mainly from the author's group. It is the author's hope that the next/coming generation will deepen the above second part for the future LAPD symposia to flourish further by eye-opening new developments.