The most powerful laser produce energy equal to 1,000 times the planet’s power consumption, but only for a fraction of a second.
The high-output laser “LFEX” at Osaka University’s Institute of Laser Engineering (Asahi Shimbun file photo)
Scientists from Osaka University created the world’s most powerful laser, producing 2-petawatt, or 2 quadrillion watts (or 2,000,000,000,000,000 watts).
The high output laser “LFEX,” was produced by firing the beam for just 1 pico-second.
The LFEX is about 100 meters long, including the observation apparatus. The four set of devices to amplify the laser beam were completed at the end of last year.
In the experiment, energy was applied to special glass using devices that were basically lamps resembling ordinary fluorescent tubes, repeatedly amplifying the power of the beam.
The team held experiments continuously and confirmed this month that a record has been achieved.
The institute’s Junji Kawanaka, an associate professor of electrical engineering at the university, said:
“With heated competition in the world to improve the performance of lasers, our goal now is to increase our output to 10 petawatts.”
via engadget
source Osaka University
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