Tampere University, Tampere, Finland
Co-ordination; high power laser concepts and simulations
Tampere University is one of the most multidisciplinary universities in Finland. Almost all internationally recognised fields of study are represented bringing together research and education in technology, health and society. Tampere University developed and patented some of the fundamental high-power laser concepts and will be closely involved in the design and development of the innovative V4F laser. They aim to maximise the economic and societal benefits by their technology transfer to the industrial sector.
Tampere University will coordinate the project under the scientific leadership of Dr Regina Gumenyuk, a young emerging research leader who has assembled and leads the consortium represented in V4F.
Dr Gumenyuk says:
“The formidable high-quality and multi-disciplinary expertise of the V4F consortium partners positions the project to uncover new knowledge of light-generation and light-matter interactions which could pave the way towards a breakthrough new technology .””
Dr Regina Gumenyuk
Dr Miroslav Krůs
Institute of Plasma Physics, Prague, Czechia
Laser fusion concepts
The Institute of Plasma Physics has a long history of research in nuclear fusion. In the Academy of Sciences, the problem of laser fusion is experimentally addressed by the Prague Asterix Laser System (PALS) laboratory (joint workplace of the Institute of Plasma Physics and the Institute of Physics) and the European research centre ELI Beamlines . The backbone of the PALS Research Centre is a giant laser system, one of the three largest lasers in Europe. the peak pulse power of the laser is enormous – up to 3 TW, i.e. 3 million megawatts.
The V4F team at the Institute is led by Dr Miroslav Krůs, head of the Laser Plasma division. He has extensive experience in large facilities both in the Czech Republic (PALS, ELI Beamlines) and abroad (CERN, BNL, LBNL, Yale University, APRI GIST in South Korea). His research is devoted to the generation and probing of a dense plasma with different combinations of charged particle beams and high energy photons. Dr Krůs says:
“The first-of-a-kind experiments we will perform using the unique capabilities of the PALS laser system will be of great interest to the laser plasma community."
Dr Katrin Wondraczek
Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology, Jena, Germany
Chemistry for optically active materials
Leibniz Institute Of Photonic Technology (IPHT) researches light-based solutions to challenges in the fields of health, environment, medicine and safety. IPHT is scientifically at the forefront of the development and manufacturing of innovative fiber concepts, and actively supports external partners from research and industry in joint R&D projects. The IPHT expertise and infrastructure includes such diverse areas as material and preform production, fiber drawing, fiber functionalization, fiber and material characterization, as well as modelling and simulation.
The V4F team at IPHT is led by Dr Katrin Wondraczek, head of the Optical Fiber Materials and Structures working group who has over 20 years experience in material synthesis and doping of optical and laser active fibers. Her research interests include plasma assisted synthesis of doped powder for optical fiber materials and structure-property relationships in optical fiber preforms. Dr Wondraczek says:
“The project will enable IPHT to build on the advanced chemistry processes for high purity optically active materials necessary for pioneering fiber laser technologies.”
Ampliconyx Oy, Tampere, Finland
High power fibre amplification
Ampliconyx Oy was founded in November 2016 as a spin-off from Optoelectronics Research Centre of Tampere University of Technology. The company is the owner of the patented technology for active tapered fibres, which is one of the most competitive approaches to boost output peak and average power to an unpreceded level. Ampliconyx sells a range of gain modules and amplifiers ideally suited for amplification of ultrashort laser pulses, both nanosecond and picosecond, offering its customers unmatched performance from all fiber solution.
The V4F team at Ampliconyx is led by Dr Valery Filippov, CEO of the company. Dr. Filippov is a world expert in the field of fiber optical devices and previously worked at University of Southampton, Liekki Corp and Tampere University of Technology. Dr. Filippov has published more than 140 peer-reviewed journal articles and is an inventor of active tapered fibers. His main field of interest is optical fibers, fiber sensors and fiber lasers and amplifiers. Dr Filippov says:
“Our involvement in this exciting project will enable us to develop a completely new class of laser with characteristics far beyond existing laser systems.”
Dr Valery Filippov
Dr Michael Londesborough
Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Prague, Czechia
New aneutronic fuels
The Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences (IIC) focusses on research of inorganic chemistry but is developing influence in other areas of natural science, such as material, physical, bio and environmental sciences. IIC has expert knowledge of synthetic methods, photochemistry, solid state analysis, analytical and quantum chemistry, catalysis and others enabling it to actively work on a number of multidisciplinary projects.
The V4F team at IIC is led by Dr Michael Londesborough who has worked as an independent researcher at the IIC for over 15 years. He is an expert in the field of the boron hydrides and their application. Besides his research, he has a keen interest in the popularization of science and was awarded the Czech Academy of Sciences President medal for his work in public communication of science. Dr Londesborough says:
“Our institute has contributed to the discovery of new molecules, nanomaterials and materials with specific properties such as luminescence, laser gain media, sorption, catalysis and is ideally situated to design, synthesise and tailor new fuels for aneutronic fusion.”
Juelich Research Centre, Juelich, Germany
Research Centre Jülich is one of the largest scientific centres in Europe with globally unique cutting-edge research. With the mission of “Shaping Change”, more than 7,000 people work hand in hand at the centre, including 672 visiting scientists from 62 countries. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, contributing to solving the major social challenges of our time. Jülich will host Europe’s first exascale supercomputer JUPITER.
The V4F team at Research Centre Jülich is led by Prof. Markus Büscher who has carried out research at the centre for over 30 years. He is currently the Group Leader of the JuSPARC laser accelerator group at the Peter Grünberg Institut. Prof. Büscher says:
“In close collaboration with a theory group from Düsseldorf University we are in charge of modelling the fusion process with a computer code. This is an extremely demanding task which will require extensive use of our most powerful supercomputer, I am fascinated by this challenge”
Prof. Markus Büscher
Simulations of light-matter interactions
Modus Research and Innovation Ltd, Dundee, UK
Innovation and research management
A not for profit company with the objective facilitating collaborative research and innovation across the academic and business sectors. MODUS operates in the space between business and academia, interacting with many R&D intensive businesses as well Universities and Research Institutes. MODUS offers expertise in the concept development, planning and management of collaborative research and innovation projects. MODUS also supports the dissemination and communication of the V4F results.
The V4F team at MODUS is led by Dr Neil Stewart who has over 15 year's experience in managing collaborative research funding, enterprise and innovation.
Dr Stewart says:
“V4F is a truly innovative project with genuine prospects to revolutionise the potential to generate energy from fusion and reap huge economic benefits for Europe. The exceptionally strong group of partners have all the necessary talents. It is a great example of what the UK will miss in the absence of association to the Horizon Europe programme.”
Dr Neil Stewart
