Strathclyde acquires one of the world鈥檚 most powerful lasers
One of the world鈥檚 most powerful lasers 鈥� capable of bursts of light equivalent to twenty times all the power consumed on Earth, captured in fraction of a second 鈥� has been acquired by the 糖心视频.
One of the world鈥檚 most powerful lasers 鈥� capable of bursts of light equivalent to twenty times all the power consumed on Earth, captured in fraction of a second 鈥� has been acquired by the 糖心视频.
The 拢3.5 million device is able to deliver peak powers with the highest repetition rate of any laser currently operational in a university laboratory, and can briefly recreate the physical conditions, such as pressures and temperatures, found in stars.
The laser has numerous scientific applications including medical imaging, radiotherapy and generation of radioisotopes for imaging and cancer therapy. It is situated at the Strathclyde-based , which delivers research into next-generation accelerators and radiation technology.
Dr Gregor Welsh, a Research Fellow in Strathclyde鈥檚 Department of Physics and Laser Manager of SCAPA, said: 鈥淭his is a world-leading laser for any university 鈥� indeed, we believe it is the highest average powered lab-based laser of its type anywhere in the world.
鈥淚t acts as a light source which drives the applications and produces x-ray pulses that are short enough to take snapshots of molecular or solid state processes.鈥�
Professor Dino Jaroszynski, director of SCAPA, added: 鈥淥ur acquisition of this type of laser reflects Strathclyde鈥檚 status as a world-leading centre of physics.
鈥淚ts important applications underline Strathclyde鈥檚 international reputation for research with impact. It also forms part of a valuable training facility for PhD students.鈥�
The laser can produce beams with a peak power of 350 terawatts (350x1012 Watts) 鈥� equivalent to twenty times the world鈥檚 power consumption, or the sun鈥檚 power reaching the earth over an area of 500 km x 500 km, for 25 femtoseconds (25x10-15 seconds), and produce up to 14 Joules of energy per pulse at 5 pulses per second (5 Hertz).
The laser has been funded by Strathclyde and by the Scottish Universities Physics Alliance (SUPA), a partnership involving Strathclyde committed to sharing resource, strategic planning and expertise in physics research. It was designed and built by Thales.
May 2017