Experiments with lasers are now able to examine quantum effects in radically new physical environments. These are strongly driven non-equilibrium systems with large particle numbers and long interaction times. For this reason, they differ greatly from either the traditional domain of scattering theory, or the theory of thermal equilibrium. They can show characteristics of non-equilibrium phase transitions, self-organization, chaos, spatial pattern formation, solitons, limit cycles, and other highly nonlinear phenomena. Relatively simple quantum field theories can be used to describe nonlinear dispersive media like optical waveguides or fibers. These can then be employed as fundamental tests of quantum theory, in areas ranging from measurement theory to solitons. An example of a novel quantum state produced in nonlinear media is the quantum soliton of the nonlinear Schroedinger equation. In agreement with theoretical predictions, recent experiments have provided direct evidence for the propagation and collision of these quantum solitons. This type of quantum field theory is relevant to fiber-optic communications systems, which operate close to the quantum limits. Recent developments include parametric solitons which exist in higher dimensions, and Bose-Einstein condensates – leading to the atom laser.