Development of advanced high energy, high pulse rate laser architectures for industrial, healthcare and scientific applications.

在STFC中央激光设施开发的偶极子激光架构结合了高脉冲能量和高效率的高脉冲速率。最近的研究结果包括将10ns脉冲在10hz下放大到146j，光对光效率达到30%。随着进一步发展，这项技术有可能彻底改变材料加工，并为高价值制造和医疗保健带来新的诊断能力。偶极子技术也将成为EPAC的核心，EPAC是一个新的英国国家研究中心，拥有一个以前所未有的10hz重复频率工作的千瓦激光器。EPAC将探索在材料技术、先进放射学和基础科学方面的应用。该项目将专注于“下一代”偶极子架构的开发，特别强调支持改进输出脉冲能量、效率和带宽的解决方案。候选人将负责自己的研究活动，从理论建模到原型制作。研究将涵盖先进激光提取架构的开发，替代增益材料的研究和创新的泵浦解决方案。候选人将有机会在EPAC系统中实施本项目确定的一些解决方案，并评估DiPOLE技术的商业可利用性。该项目将把偶极子系统推向一个新的水平，并分析超过150 j的能量能力。它将探索放大器的新多通架构，改进参数控制（例如极化），以及使用混合增益介质材料放大更短的脉冲。

The DiPOLE laser architecture developed at the STFC Central Laser Facility combines high pulse energy with high pulse rate at high efficiency. Recent results include the amplification of 10 ns pulses to 146 J at 10 Hz with an optical-to-optical efficiency of 30%. With further development, this technology has the potential to revolutionise materials processing and drive new diagnostic capabilities for high value manufacturing and healthcare.DiPOLE technology will also be at the heart of EPAC, a new UK national research centre hosting a petawatt laser operating at an unprecedented 10 Hz repetition rate. EPAC will explore applications in material technology, advanced radiography and fundamental science.This project will focus on the development of "next generation" DiPOLE architectures with a particular emphasis on solutions supporting improvements in output pulse energy, efficiency and bandwidth.The candidate will be responsible for their own research activities, ranging from theoretical modelling to prototyping. Research will span the development of advanced laser extraction architectures, investigation of alternative gain materials and innovative pumping solutions. The candidate will have the opportunity to implement some of the solutions identified as part of this project in the EPAC system and assess the commercial exploitability of DiPOLE technology.This project will push DiPOLE systems to next level and analyse energy capabilities beyond 150 J. It will explore new multi-pass architecture for the amplifier, improved control of parameters (e.g. polarization), as well as using mixed gain media materials for amplification of shorter pulses.