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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/N33188/01
Title: NOVEL LASER-SOLID INTERACTION STUDIES AT HIGH LASER INTENSITIES ON VULCAN & ASTRA USING NCULEAR TECHNIQUES
Principal Investigator: Ledingham, Professor K
Other Investigators:
Bingham, Professor R Singhal, Dr RP Norreys, Professor PA
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: School of Physics and Astronomy
Organisation: University of Glasgow
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 November 2000 Ends: 30 September 2002 Value (£): 349,019
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Plasmas - Laser & Fusion
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Healthcare Energy
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The present proposal describes a programme to study high intensity laser-solid interactions on the VULCAN and ASTRA lasers at RAL using nuclear techniques. The aims and objectives are to study the production of high energy electrons by focussing the laser beam on high Z targets. This will be carried out not only from a fundamental point of view but also to investigate the enormous potential for the practical applications of this technology, particularly as an advanced diagnostic technique in plasma physics and also as a table top reactor for the production of protons, positrons and isotopes. The experiments on VULCAN and ASTRA will be complementary to each other. VULCAN can produce focused intensities of 10(19)Wcm(2) but with a low repetition similar to VULCAN in efficiency in production of beams of protons and isotopes. During the course of this work the production rate of about a pulse per30 min. After upgrade this will increase to 10(21)Wcm(2) in the third year. Additionally ASTRA with its lower intensity of 10(18-19)Wcm(2) can deliver about 1 pulse/sec and hence after the addition of many pulses will be of protons, isotopes, positrons and pions will be studied and compared with the most modern computer simulations.
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Organisation Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk