The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has received nearly $2 million in federal stimulus funds from the National Science Foundation for renovations to expand its Diocles high-power laser research capabilities. The $1,825,345 grant will enable UNL to renovate the sub-basement and basement of Behlen Laboratory. 110822, Photo by Craig Chandler / University Communications
Uniting the nation’s top-notch laser facilities
In October, the university’s Extreme Light Laboratory became one of nine founding members of LaserNetUS, a research network aimed at uniting the nation’s most powerful laser facilities and giving U.S. scientists increased access to this high-intensity, ultrafast equipment. LaserNetUS, supported by a $6.8 million allocation from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Fusion Energy Sciences program, includes lasers with powers approaching or exceeding a petawatt – a million billion watts. The university hosted the inaugural meeting of the group, which plans to issue a nationwide request for proposals from scientists who could use the network’s facilities to expand their research.
The network is enabling Nebraska to stretch one of its fortes: high-intensity laser physics research. This strength was on full display this year, when a group of Nebraska researchers conducted an experiment where plasma electrons in the paths of intense laser light pulses were almost instantly accelerated close to the speed of light. This new application, dubbed an “optical rocket” by the research team, is an example of how light forces can be used as tools.
