Retrospect and prospect on 60-year development of high energy laser

Ordered motion of quantum particles produces laser, while disordered motion produces heat, this conflict overwhelms development of high energy laser since its beginning, and the guide-line of its history is just a battle with waste heat. Reviewing the 60-year development of high energy laser and examining the science behind it, we divided its history into pre and past 30 years, which separately solved the problem of capability and was just solving the problem of easy-to-use ability. Sticking with heat generation and dissipation, we discussed inner links between power, beam quality and efficiency of high energy laser, reviewed the rise and fall of different kinds of lasers, and predicted future development of high energy laser.