| More than 25 years ago it took a nuclear | | | | researchers to attract and build a level of |
| explosion under the Nevada desert to power the | | | | expertise in the general area of plasma physics, |
| world's first x-ray laser. The new x-ray laser at | | | | previously beyond the reach of an in-house |
| Queen's will be powered by another optical laser, | | | | university-scale research program in the UK, the |
| which the university said is one of the most | | | | university said. |
| powerful optical lasers available in any university | | | | "X-ray lasers can be used to probe and diagnose |
| laboratory worldwide. The Engineering and Physical | | | | very dense plasma conditions of the type, for |
| Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) awarded | | | | example, anticipated in the core of fuel pellets |
| £2.1 million several years ago for the | | | | compressed by powerful optical lasers. It is |
| construction of the Taranis to create extremely | | | | tremendously exciting that Queen's laser systems |
| hot plasmas. | | | | are now capable of carrying out world-leading |
| "Plasmas are the 'fourth state of matter,' along | | | | experiments involving laser-plasma interactions in |
| with gases, liquids and solids. In fact, 99 percent | | | | extreme conditions," Lewis said. |
| of the observable universe, including the stars we | | | | "The need for an increased effort in plasma |
| see in the sky, is in the plasma state," said | | | | physics research and for more trained plasma |
| professor Ciaran Lewis of Queen's Centre for | | | | physicists is driven by the expanding use of |
| Plasma Physics. | | | | plasmas in a wide range of applications in industry, |
| Four hundred times more powerful than the entire | | | | including the effort to determine if laser-produced |
| UK National Grid when in operation, it is known as | | | | nuclear fusion can provide for the world's post-oil |
| Taranis (terawatt apparatus for relativistic and | | | | power needs," he said. "Highlighting these two new |
| nonlinear interdisciplinary science). Named after the | | | | systems to our international research colleagues |
| European Celtic god of thunder and lightning, it | | | | will ensure Queen's Centre for Plasma Physics and |
| relies on a very powerful infrared laser system | | | | its researchers remain to the fore of global |
| which has been recently installed within the Centre | | | | breakthroughs in the area of high energy density |
| for Plasma Physics at Queen's. | | | | physics. We are anticipating many new |
| Both laser systems will enable Queen's | | | | international collaborations. |