A newly constructed University of Michigan facility that will be home to the most powerful laser in the United States is hosting its first experiment this week as the nation seeks to become competitive again in the realm of high-power laser facilities.
The U.S. built the world’s first petawatt laser a quarter-century ago, but hasn’t kept pace with more ambitious systems in Europe and Asia. While ZEUS doesn’t feature the same raw power as its contemporaries overseas, its approach will simulate a laser that is roughly 1 million times more powerful than its 3 petawatts.
Experiments are expected to contribute to the understanding of how the universe operates at the subatomic level and materials change on rapid timescales. Scientists also hope they lead to the development of smaller and more compact particle accelerators for medical imaging and treatment. Proposals to use ZEUS will be evaluated by an external panel comprised of scientists and engineers. Because of the NSF funding, there will be no cost to users whose experiment proposals are selected to conduct research, beyond providing their own travel costs to the facility.Franklin Dollar, an associate professor in Cal-Irvine’s Department of Physics & Astronomy, and four UCI graduate students arrived at Michigan last week to begin preparing for their experiment.
“Rather than solely making highly energetic plasmas from a laser, there is a second beam which can interact with the plasma as well,” he said.ZEUS is an upgrade over the University of Michigan’s 0.5-petawatt laser, known as HERCULES.
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Paramount Ad Shake-Up: John Halley Promoted, Jo Ann Ross Shifts to Advisory RoleAfter 30 years at the company, Ross will become chairman of advertising at Paramount, where she will advise the company.
Read more »
MPD holds Homeless Cleanup on Ann Street to help displaced Montgomery citizens - Alabama NewsAs a part of Mayor Reed's action initiative to better serve those in the city of Montgomery who may be experiencing homelessness, ALDOT crews began the city wide clean up at the underpass at Ann Street and I-85.
Read more »
USD/CNH poised for further consolidation – UOBUSD/CNH is expected to remain side-lined within the 6.9000-6.9700 range for the time being, comment FX Strategists at UOB Group Lee Sue Ann and Quek S
Read more »
GBP/USD remains under pressure above 1.1400 – UOBFX Strategists at UOB Group Lee Sue Ann and Quek Ser Leang talked down the possibility of a break below 1.1400 in GBP/USD in the near term. Key Quotes
Read more »
Blockchain Association unveils BA PAC to support pro-crypto from both US partiesThe powerful Blockchain Association is the latest crypto industry trade group to form its own political action committee in the runup to the U.S. midterm elections.
Read more »