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Gemini is a petawatt-class laser with two target areas. It is named after the twin-beam setup that supplies one of its target areas. The extreme concentration of energy possible with Gemini makes it one of the most intense lasers in the world. 

Overview

MOPA (Master Oscillator – Power Amplifier) architecture
Twin 15J, 30fs pulses at a peak power of 0.5PW
Laser frequency of 527nm
Repetition rate of one shot every 20 seconds

The front end of this laser system is a high power, ultra-short pulse, high-repetition rate laser. It uses titanium-doped sapphire as its gain medium to produce pulses of light at a wavelength of 800nm (near infrared).

These pulses are split into two separate beams, and are each amplified to extremely high energies using the Gemini pump lasers. The two output beams of the Gemini laser system are short pulses of light, 40fs in duration, each delivering 15J of energy.

Interaction of the focused pulse with a material leads to generation of bright, coherent X-ray sources, or energetic beams of electrons and protons. The dual beam capabilities of the laser system make it ideal for pump-probe and strong field quantum electrodynamics experiments.

Applications

Laser plasma acceleration

X-ray generation

High energy density physics

A metal table with several different types of mirrors and lenses bolted to it. There is a bright green laser passing through it, which can be seen as it shines on each mirror or lens.

The Gemini laser can produce the high electric fields desired for particle acceleration without the long distances requiredin conventional accelerators. Experiments in laser wakefield acceleration aid in the progression of compact particle accelerators for use in medical imaging and radiation therapy, as well as future colliders.

X-ray CT scan of a piece of bone cut into the shape of a cube. The bone appears to have a porous texture.

Femtosecond duration X-ray bursts can be generated from solid or gas target experiments in Gemini. These ultrafast X-ray pulses allow experimentalists to probe matter on extremely short timescales, allowing deep investigation into atomic and molecular dynamics.

dark scene with blue hue and a bright red laser coming in from the left. The laser bounces off a mirror to the right of the image and appears to hit a target. Where it hits there is a bright red and yellow flare of light.

By forcing matter into high pressure and temperature states, extreme astrophysical environments can be mimicked in the lab. Conditions in that of stars or planet cores can be reached, enabling further understanding into nuclear fusion, black holes, and other astrophysical phenomena.