We analyze the spatial diffusion of the knowledge in laser technology in West Germany from the very beginning of the technology in the year 1960 until the year 2005. Our main questions are: In which locations has laser research begun and why? What was the general spatial diffusion pattern of the laser technology research, and what are the reasons behind this diffusion pattern? The diffusion of the laser technology research is measured by laser patent applications and scientific publications. For characterizing the regional absorptive capacity, we consider the academic organizations in the fields of physics and electrical engineering. Our results indicate that the presence of universities with the relevant departments seems to have been a precondition for the adoption of the new technology. For this reason the expansion of universities in West Germany had an effect on the diffusion of laser technology research among German regions. Among the regions that fulfilled this precondition, research on laser technology has been first adopted in larger agglomerations. Moreover, geographic proximity to the center of early laser research in Germany, Munich, has been found to be conducive for the early adoption of laser research. In the early years, Siemens, a large firm of the electronics industry located in Munich, played a dominating role. With respect to the determinants of laser research at the regional level, we found that relatively early adoption of laser research in a region has a positive effect on the level of laser research in later periods indicating cumulativeness of the respective knowledge. While the presence of a university department in the field of physics or engineering has a positive effect on scientific publications on laser technology, laser producers have a pronounced effect of on patenting activities in this technological field.