MEPhI creates a laser facility for the study of thermonuclear fusion

Scientists of the Research Institute “MEPhI” have begun to create a unique multifunctional laser device “ELF”, which, firstly, will allow the students of the institute to understand how such units work at enterprises, and secondly, will expand the knowledge of young people in such experiments, like thermonuclear fusion, plasma physics, extreme states of matter, and even laboratory astrophysics.

The experimental laser-physical installation will allow studying the physics of the Universe by simulating the processes that occur in the depths of the stars themselves during their explosions. Andrey Kuznetsov, director of the MEPhI Institute of Laser and Plasma Technologies, said that ELF should be able to operate in the “photon factory” mode, in which laser pulses are generated according to the “orders” of the scientists working on it.

Now in the world only five countries have such installations. These are the USA, France, Russia, China and Japan. There is a similar installation in Germany, but it is made from elements left over from a dismantled American laser. According to Andrey Kuznetsov, experiments carried out at industrial facilities are very expensive. But at university facilities, they can be carried out, firstly, no less qualitatively, and secondly, much cheaper.

It is assumed that the facility will be located on the first floor of the NRNU MEPhI scientific and laboratory building, and the “Laser Hall” will become its heart, where large-sized laser-optical equipment will be located in a “clean zone”.

Mona Platonov.