Next generation high energy, high repetition lasers

Ultrashort and shortpulse lasers (USPL) are driving substantial innovations in a range of sectors including defence, medicine and remote sensing.

But they require new technology to stay at the forefront of engineering and scientific advancement. DSI’s CADR-USPL is supporting development of this new technology by delivering lasers which transmit pulses of high-energy light as brief as one trillionth of a second and 100 times brighter than sunlight.

Prof Miftar Ganija explains why this is important. "When you shine our high energy, high repetition lasers onto a material, the laser bursts create extremely high temperatures and pressures that could otherwise only be created by a small nuclear bomb. This turns the target material into ‘plasma’ and as the laser bursts are extremely short, there isn’t time for the plasma to spread or to increase temperatures in, or damage, surrounding areas. This makes our lasers incredibly accurate and effective. It also means they can liquidise or even vapourise objects, making them much more powerful than conventional technologies and an extremely exciting area to be involved with."

From a defence perspective, these lasers have the potential to detect, track, illuminate and engage the latest generation of advanced air, maritime or land-based threats. They can also be used to improve precision and accuracy in a wide range of industries including medical, cutting-edge x-ray technology and manufacturing of microchips.