Strathclyde University acquires one of the world’s most powerful lasers from Thales
One of the world’s most powerful lasers – designed and built by Thales – capable of bursts of light equivalent to twenty times all the power consumed on Earth in fraction of a second – has been acquired by the University of Strathclyde.
The £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 has been installed by Thales at the Strathclyde-based Scottish Centre for the Application of Plasma-based Accelerators (SCAPA), which delivers research into next-generation accelerators and radiation technology.
Dr Gregor Welsh, a Research Fellow in Strathclyde’s Department of Physics and Laser Manager of SCAPA, said: “This is a world-leading laser for any university – indeed, we believe it is the highest average powered lab-based laser of its type anywhere in the world. It 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.”
The laser can produce beams with a peak power of 350 terawatts (350x1012 Watts) – equivalent to twenty times the world’s power consumption, or the sun’s 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.
The Research Excellence Framework 2014, the comprehensive rating of UK universities’ research, ranked the University of Strathclyde’s Physics research first in the UK, with 96% of output assessed as world-leading or internationally excellent.
The University of Strathclyde is a leading international technological university located in the heart of Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city. Its commitment to useful learning guides its research, learning and teaching – and the way it works with businesses and organisations.
Research is of central importance in everything Strathclyde does. It informs the University’s teaching and helps it to make a difference to business, industry and society as a whole. The University’s Technology & Innovation Centre – which also boasts some of the most modern, flexible conferencing facilities in Glasgow – is transforming the way Strathclyde works with partners. Strathclyde's advances in research output and quality have been significant. It is now among the 20 top research intensive universities in the UK, as shown in latest Research Excellence Framework (REF).
The University’s reputation and influence is global, yet it is an institution firmly grounded in the heart of Glasgow. Strathclyde contributes to the social, cultural and economic life of Scotland through the presence of a vibrant, international student community, as a major employer and by proactive engagement with the city leadership to drive Glasgow’s growth.
Established in 1796 by Professor John Anderson ‘for the good of mankind’ and with the purpose of being ‘the place of useful learning’, Strathclyde is the only higher education institution to be established in Scotland during the Enlightenment.