At CALTA, we are dedicated to advancing the frontiers of science and technology through the development of world-leading high-energy, high-average power laser systems. Our mission is to empower cutting-edge research across the UK and around the globe by delivering the most capable and innovative laser technologies available.
We strive to be the best in the world—designing and building the most advanced high-energy lasers to meet the evolving needs of science, industry, and society. Through our work, we aim not only to push the boundaries of what is possible today, but also to inspire and nurture the next generation of scientists and engineers who will shape the discoveries of tomorrow.
At the heart of our work is the DiPOLE laser – a powerful and efficient scalable system designed to deliver intense pulses of light for use in science, industry, and future technologies. Our laser systems provide a high energy and high repetition rate to help support scientific excellence and drive cutting-edge research in the UK and internationally.
CALTA is leading development of a new diode-pumped solid-state laser (DPSSL) concept with the potential of delivering low cost, efficient, high pulse energy laser driver technology for a future inertial fusion energy (IFE) power plant.
This work is being conducted at the CLF as part of the “UK Project: Laser inertial Fusion Technology for Energy” (UPLiFT), a £10 million, 4-year UK government funded initiative to advance laser-driven fusion science in the areas of laser technology, implosion targetry, and fusion physics.
The project aims to demonstrate a laser driver concept which is capable of delivering kilojoule-class pulses at 10Hz pulse rate with 10% wall plug efficiency, greater than 1% bandwidth at wavelengths less 500nm, and in a shaped ns pulse. Multiple kJ-class beamlines will then be required to achieve the 100’s of kilojoules to 1MJ total energy required for IFE at a target cost of £1,000 per joule.