On High Power Laser Physics

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• Professor Cristina Hernandez-Gomez, Rutherford Appleton Laboratory
• Wednesday 20 October 2010, 20:00-21:00
• Pfizer Lecture Theatre, Department of Chemistry, Lensfield Road.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Peter Humphreys.

High power lasers are capable of delivering ultra high focussed intensities greater than 1021 Wcm-2 . The Central Laser Facility in Oxfordshire is home to two of these high power lasers: Vulcan and Astra Gemini. There is a project underway to upgrade Vulcan, currently delivering 1 PW, to 10 PW and focused intensities >1023 Wcm-2. This represents orders of magnitude increases in intensity currently available. The interaction of a high power laser pulse with matter is a violent event by any measure. Material is instantly vaporised, ionised, heated and compressed and truly extreme conditions evolve. One can access these conditions in the controlled and flexible manner offered by a laser, it opens up powerful new opportunities for the development of advanced technology.

There will be a wine reception after the talk with the guest speaker.

Free for everyone.

This talk is part of the Cambridge University Physics Society series.

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