Quantum cascade lasers (QCL) are a special type of lasers that emit light in mid- to far-infrared region of the electromagnetic spectrum. These lasers differ from other semiconductor diode lasers in their fundamental structures as these are unipolar lasers that rely only on electrons. QCL are used in spectroscopy, free-space communication, breathe analysis and missile countermeasures. ____________ 1 Micromarkets are defined as the further segments and subsegments of the quantum cascade lasers market included in the report. 2 Core competencies of the companies are captured in terms of their key developments, and key strategies adopted by them to sustain their position in the market.

Visionary leaders are the leading market players in terms of new developments such as product launches, innovative technologies, and the adoption of growth strategies. These players have a broad product offering that caters to most of the regions globally. Visionary leaders primarily focus on acquiring the leading market position through their strong financial capabilities and their well-established brand equity.

Dynamic Differentiators are established players with very strong business strategies. However, they have a weaker product portfolio compared to the visionary leaders. They generally focus only on a specific type of technology related to the product.

Innovators in the competitive leadership mapping are vendors that have demonstrated substantial product innovations as compared to their competitors. The companies have focused on product portfolios. However, they do not have very strong growth strategies for their overall business, when compared with the visionary leaders.

Emerging companies have niche product and service offerings. Their business strategies are not as strong as that of the established vendors. The emerging vendors include the new entrants in the market, emerging in terms of product portfolio and geographic reach, and require time to gain significant traction in the market.