The geographic evolution of optics technologies in the United States, 1976–2010.

This research examines the evolution of technology within the optics industry. Optics is the study of the behaviour and transmission of light. We identify core optical technologies using a list of optics‐related keywords and US patent data. Sub‐class data, spanning 3,000 technology fields, enabled the characterization of different branches of knowledge production within optics. The "map equation" is used to represent the evolution of these technological branches across centres of optics innovation in the US. Analysis shows that individual cities specialize in the creation of different kinds of optics technologies, and these technologies take on different evolutionary pathways over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]