Biggest X-ray laser in the world generates its first laser light
In the metropolitan region of Hamburg, the European XFEL, the biggest X-ray laser in the world, has reached the last major milestone before the official opening in September. The 3.4 km long facility, most of which is located in underground tunnels, has generated its first X-ray laser light. The X-ray light has a wavelength of 0.8 nm—about 500 times shorter than that of visible light. At first lasing, the laser had a repetition rate of one pulse per second, which will later increase to 27 000 per second.
Optics in Aquitaine
Aquitaine, a sunny paradise in the South West of France, is well-known for its splendid landscapes surrounding the Arcachon Bay, its rich history including early contributions to building Europe through Aliénor and Henry II of England, and its exceptional wines unrivaled worldwide.
Aquitaine attracts the light and its capital, Bordeaux, creates a vibrant and outstanding place for optical sciences.
France inaugurates APOLLON Laser
The summer of the International Year of Light ended brilliantly in France.
After PETAL’s achievement celebrated in mid-September near Bordeaux (see related e-EPS news of this issue), the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) together with Université Paris-Saclay (which includes the Ecole Polytechnique, ENSTA, IOGS and the Université Paris-Sud) inaugurated the APOLLON laser facility on the 29th of October 2015. This inauguration took place in the presence of the French State Secretary for Higher Education and Research, Mr. Thierry Mandon, the Vice-President of the Ile-de-France Regional …
Inauguration of PETAL at the French Megajoule Laser Facility
On 29 May 2015, PETAL, (PETawatt Aquitaine Laser), delivered a power of 1.2 Petawatt (one million billion Watts). Supplying almost 1000 Joules of optical energy during less than 1 picosecond (1 psec = 10-12 sec.), thus making PETAL the first facility to overcome the Petawatt power barrier at the highest energy level within one beamline. It becomes the most powerful kilojoule-class laser in the world to date. Part of the Megajoule Laser Facility [LMJ] near Bordeaux, France, this instrument positions the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission [CEA] in a leading position worldwide for building and exploiting powerful lasers.
CLEO®/Europe-EQEC 2015 invites prestigious speakers
The International Conference CLEO®/Europe-EQEC 2015, Europe’s premier joint conference on Lasers, Electro-optics and Fundamental Quantum Electronics, will take place from Sunday June 21st, 2015 to Thursday June 25th, 2015 at the Munich International Congress Centre [ICM], Germany. It will be held in conjunction with Laser World of Photonics 2015, the largest European Exhibition of laser and electro-optic equipment and services.
New milestone for ELI Beamlines facility
On 16 September 2013, the Extreme Light Infrastructure [ELI] Beamlines facility awarded a contract worth approximately €34.5m to the Lawrence Livermore National Security LLC [LLNS] to develop and deliver a state-of-the-art laser system that will be at the heart of the ELI Beamlines user facility.
Located in the village of Dolní Břežany, Czech Republic, the ELI Beamlines facility aims to pioneer work in a number of research fields using ultra-high intensity lasers. The facility will host a cutting-edge research laser, around 100 times…
Advanced Solid-State Lasers
The Advanced Solid-State Lasers congress [ASSL] will be held in Paris, France, from 27 October to 1 November 2013.
This new congress combines the significant research from the topical meetings formally known as Advanced Solid-State Photonics [ASSP], Advances in Optical Materials [AIOM], and Fiber Laser Applications [FILAS].
Topics will cover materials, sources and applications of solid-state lasers. A detailed description of the programme and the congress scope is available on the ASSL website…
IZEST conference report
Eminent physicists from around the world met in Glasgow at the International Zetawatt-Exawatt Science Technology conference [IZEST] hosted by the University of Strathclyde to explore new ways of investigating the fundamental structure of matter and vacuum through the use of the highest power lasers available, which is leading to a new paradigm in basic physics research.
The second IZEST Meeting was held in from 13 to 15 November 2012, to explore the possibility…
EPS launches research in laser science prize
A new prize for Research in Laser Science and Applications has been launched by the Quantum Electronics & Optics Division [QEOD] of the European Physical Society [EPS]. The award – which is to be given biennially – will recognise recent excellent research, by up to three individuals, in the field of laser science and its application.
The award will be presented to its winner(s) during a prize ceremony at the 6th EPS Europhoton Conference on “Solid-State, Fibre and Waveguide Coherent Light Sources”, which is to be held in 2014…
IZEST-Helmholtz Beamlines Workshop
The Joined IZEST-Helmholtz Beamlines Workshop is being held at GSI Darmstadt, in Germany, on 23-25 April this year. The event will explore potential collaborations between the IZEST and atomic/plasma physics communities with regarding to coupling lasers at the planned Facility for Antiproton and Ion Research.
Topics under discussion will include atomic physics; high-energy, high-intensity laser technology; high field physics; and plasma physics…
