Fusion of expertise aims to develop sovereign capability

An image of a laser

Caption: A USPL high intensity 2-micron laser inducing air-breakdown. Image: 成人大片.

The 成人大片 has joined a coalition of global laser technology heavyweights which aims to kickstart the Australian laser industry. An MOU includes plans for the first joint initiative to build a high energy laser facility in Australia.

鈥湷扇舜笃 scientists will collaborate with industry partners and researchers from other institutions to develop sovereign capability in many new areas of technology, including laser technology for clean fusion energy generation,鈥 said Professor Miftar Ganija, DSTG/成人大片 Professor in Ultra-Short and Short Pulse Lasers (USPL), Leader of the Centre for Advanced Defence Research (CADR-USPL) Program.

鈥淭he partnership will include, among others, engineering multinational, Japan鈥檚 first-ever laser fusion company, the 成人大片, long-time global leaders in high-energy laser science the, engineering firm BECA and laser component manufacturer.

This will enable new cutting-edge research to be conducted at the 成人大片 as part of the Ultra-Short and Short Pulse Laser (USPL) program.鈥

The goals of the coalition are to:

  • AchieveAustralian petawatt laser capability,听as an internationally significant research infrastructure investment;
  • Build the partners鈥 capabilities forparticipation in large scientific partnerships, including public private partnerships (PPPs) for laser fusion energy;
  • Developapplications for ultrashort and short pulse laser (USPL) systems, including directed energy and laser fusion for clean energy generation;
  • Identify laser design, engineering, and development opportunities听as a focus for investment;
  • Assist to establish alocal sovereign advanced manufacturing industry听for key components of USPL systems; and
  • Build a workforce of experts听in USPL science, design, and manufacture as a foundation to grow the emerging industry.
鈥淭his is a fantastic time for our research because of the announcement about laser fusion and the signing of the MOU to further strengthen the 成人大片鈥檚 and its industry partners鈥 efforts towards sovereign manufacturing capability.鈥 Professor Mifta Ganija

The University鈥檚 USPL team is collaborating with industry partner to capture the already rapidly evolving industry for high-power lasers through the joint 成人大片 and UNSW Defence Trailblazer for Sovereign Capability project. The project is pursuing the development of new USPL applications from concept to industrial manufacture.听

The announcement of the partnership coincides with news from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California that their scientists have achieved a fundamental breakthrough of using a high intensity laser. The announcement heralds a step towards limitless, zero-carbon through fusion.

鈥淭he breakthrough shows the efficiency of the laser and will likely hold the answer to the world鈥檚 clean energy problems,鈥 said Professor Ganija.

The Australian approach to fusion is unique as it plans to use hydrogen and boron-11. 成人大片 graduate, Sir Mark Oliphant, played an important role in demonstrating nuclear fusion in 1932. The first USPL laser sources developed at the University are done in the building named after Sir Oliphant. The field of laser fusion was pioneered by HB11 co-founder Professor Heinrich Hora.

鈥淭his is a fantastic time for our research because of the announcement about laser fusion and the signing of the MOU to further strengthen the 成人大片鈥檚 and its industry partners鈥 efforts towards sovereign manufacturing capability,鈥 said Professor Ganija.

Tagged in featured story, lasers, Centre for Advanced Defence Research in Ultrashort and Short Pulsed Lasers