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