Speaker
Description
Laser-driven particle accelerators can drive a wide range of particle and radiation sources with unique characteristics, including femtosecond-scale durations, micron-scale source sizes, and ultra-high peak brightness. Their extreme versatility also enables fine control and tuneability of beam parameters and for the generation of a wide range of particles and photons (e.g., electrons, ions, positrons, x-rays, and gamma-rays) within the same facility.
To maximise its translational capability into several areas of fundamental and applied sciences, it is now necessary to produce laser-driven sources at a high average flux and high repetition rates. To address this key strategic demand in the area, we are building at Queen's University Belfast the first high repetition rate (100 Hz) and high peak power (10 TW) laser system in the UK and Ireland, which will be operated as a user facility for academia, private sector, and research institutes.
In this seminar, we will present the laser facility highlighting its expected performance, potential applications, and scientific agenda.