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

在STFC中心激光设施开发的偶极激光器结构将高脉冲能量与高脉冲速率以高效率结合在一起。最近的结果包括在10赫兹将10 ns脉冲放大到146J，光-光效率为30%。随着进一步的发展，这项技术有可能为材料加工带来革命性的变化，并为高价值制造和医疗保健驱动新的诊断能力。DiPOLE技术也将成为EPAC的核心，EPAC是一个新的英国国家研究中心，拥有一台以前所未有的10赫兹重复频率运行的拍瓦激光。EPAC将探索在材料技术、先进射线照相术和基础科学方面的应用。这项计划将专注于开发“下一代”偶极结构，特别强调支持输出脉冲能量、效率和带宽改进的解决方案。候选人将负责他们自己的研究活动，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系统中实施作为该项目的一部分的一些解决方案，并评估偶极技术的商业可利用性。该项目将推动偶极系统进入下一阶段，并分析超过150 J的能量能力。它将探索放大器的新的多程架构，改进参数(例如偏振)的控制，以及使用混合增益介质材料放大较短的脉冲。

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.