A small team of high-level European scientists gathered at ELI-Beamlines to prepare the future of ultra-high intensity laser pulses based on plasma amplification. A working group (WG) was established to look at ways to overcome the limitations of solid-state based optical materials due to the inherent damage threshold by using a plasma to amplify and focus light pulses to power levels far beyond 10 PW.

The WG defined necessary experimental and simulation work that is required to advance the topic. The WG intends to establish a European roadmap with international participation for the creation of UHI light pulses, paving the way for future plasma-based Exawatt lasers.

The availability of the high-energy laser L4 will become an essential tool for preparing the next-generation laser-systems and thereby puts ELI-Beamlines in a unique position to contribute to this scientific endeavor.

The event consisted of experiments, theory and simulation and was organized by S. Weber (ELI Beamlines) & C. Riconda (Laboratoire pour L’utilisation des lasers intenses – LULI). 12 scientists from Czech Rep., France, Germany, Italy and UK were involved.