Department of Advanced Photon Research

Department of Advanced Photon Research

We promote the development of laser-driven quantum beam sources using high-intensity lasers and research on their application to diverse fields.

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Ｍembers

J-KAREN-P: The World’s Top Class High-Intensity Laser

The J-KAREN-P laser system, which can generate laser pulses with a peak power of 1 petawatt (1 peta = 1000 trillion), is one of the leading facilities of ultra-high-intensity lasers in the world. Since the completion of the J-KAREN-P laser system, we have been working to improve the intensity, beam quality, remoteness, and stability of the laser system.

 
J-KAREN-P laser system. The light from the powerful pumping laser makes the laser glow green.

The high-intensity laser opens up new fields of science.

The interaction of the intense optical field with materials is being studied to produce highly efficient gamma rays and coherent X-rays, and to generate neutron beams, aiming at nondestructive detection technology that can identify elements and isotopes. In addition, as a future compact accelerator, we are developing a "laser-plasma electron accelerator," which accelerates electrons using 
the electric field associated with plasma wave created by a laser in a plasma instead of conventional technology (microwaves).

When a high-intensity laser pulse is injected into a gas, a plasma wave is generated to accelerate electrons. The resulting acceleration electric field is three orders of magnitude greater than that of conventional accelerators (microwave technology), enabling high energy electron acceleration over short distances.