go to top scroll for more

Projects


Projects: Projects for Investigator
Reference Number EP/J003832/1
Title Multi-PetaWatt Laser-Plasma Interactions: A New Frontier in Physics
Status Completed
Energy Categories Nuclear Fission and Fusion(Nuclear Fusion) 35%;
Not Energy Related 65%;
Research Types Basic and strategic applied research 100%
Science and Technology Fields PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS (Physics) 100%
UKERC Cross Cutting Characterisation Not Cross-cutting 100%
Principal Investigator Dr P McKenna
No email address given
Physics
University of Strathclyde
Award Type Standard
Funding Source EPSRC
Start Date 01 March 2012
End Date 28 February 2017
Duration 60 months
Total Grant Value £1,330,510
Industrial Sectors No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Region Scotland
Programme NC : Physical Sciences
 
Investigators Principal Investigator Dr P McKenna , Physics, University of Strathclyde (100.000%)
  Industrial Collaborator Project Contact , STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (RAL) (0.000%)
Web Site
Objectives
Abstract The interaction of intense laser pulses with matter is opening up new frontiers in physics via the production of extreme pressures, temperatures and intense electric and magnetic fields. This is leading to the use of high power laser radiation for exploring the properties of hot dense matter, the production of high energy particles and radiation, and the development of schemes to generate energy by inertial confinement fusion. These advances are driven by rapid developments in ultrashort pulse laser technology which have enabled new regimes in laser power and intensity to be reached. With the advent of multi-petawatt power lasers (e.g. the upgrade project to the Vulcan laser at the UK's Central Laser Facility will deliver 10 petawatt pulses by 2013-2014) exotic new plasmas with unique properties are accessible, including strongly relativistic dense plasma. The principal aims of this proposed project are to investigate the fundamentals of laser-solid interactions in strongly relativistic plasmas - a regime of laser-plasma interactions not previously accessible - and to harness predicted promising new ion acceleration schemes achievable with ultrahigh intensity laser pulses. This will advance our understanding of ultrahigh intensity laser solid interactions and may lead to new applications of laser-plasma-based particle and radiation sources. The proposal involves the development and application of new techniques on experiments using some of the highest power laser systems available
Publications (none)
Final Report (none)
Added to Database 22/03/12