The UK is set to build the world’s most powerful laser that will be a ‘million, billion, billion times brighter’ than the Sun.
In a £85 million investment, announced today, the laser is expected to revolutionise scientific research and lead to new discoveries in areas such as clean energy and cancer treatment.
The ‘Vulcan 20-20 laser’ is being built at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF) in Oxfordshire.
The Vulcan laser will be 100 times brighter than its predecessor and exponentially brighter than the Sahara Desert’s brightest sunlight.
‘Reestablishing Britain as home to the world’s most powerful laser is an exciting opportunity to explore the unexplored in astronomy and physics, stride towards new clean energy sources for the good of our planet and much more,’ said George Freeman, Science Minister.
This laser will be used to study the fundamental properties of matter under extreme conditions, which could lead to new materials and technologies.
It will also be used to explore the potential of laser fusion as a clean energy source.
The Vulcan 20-20 laser is expected to be completed in 2027 and is expected to create hundreds of new jobs for scientists and engineers.
‘Vulcan has been the flagship laser at CLF for many years, and widely recognised internationally as a pioneering facility,’ said Professor John Collier, Director of CLF.
Over the past 40 years, it has made important contributions to plasma physics research and hundreds of PhD students have been trained at the facility.
‘It is timely for Vulcan to undergo its next major upgrade, making it ready to serve a new generation of scientists, ensuring the UK retains its leadership role in this field.’
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