Laser invention in the city (5)
I believe the answer is:
arles
'city' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'laser invention' is the wordplay.
'invention' indicates an anagram.
'laser' with letters rearranged gives 'ARLES'.
'in the' acts as a link.
(Other definitions for arles that I've seen before include "A golden hello" , "City of southern France" , "French city" , "Where van Gogh worked" , "Rhone town" .)