To establish the technological backbone of attosecond science, we pursue the control of laser light fields and synthesis of light waveforms with shaped sub-cycle field evolution from coherent waves of frequencies spanning an octave or more. To this end, we advance broadband multilayer mirror technology, for radiation ranging from the vacuum ultraviolet (λ<200 nm) to the mid infrared ( λ>2000 nm), which constitutes an enabling technology for successful pursuit of these goals. The controlled and synthesized few-cycle-to-monocycle light waves are produced at ever higher field strengths and repetition rates in order that new regimes of controlled light-electron interactions can be explored and deeper insight into microscopic dynamics can be gained.