The United Kingdom is embarking on a groundbreaking endeavor to construct the world’s most potent laser, a device aptly named Vulcan 20-20, which promises to be “a million, billion, billion” times brighter than the sun, according to a report by The Times. The UK Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) has secured £85 million in funding to upgrade its Vulcan system, with the ambitious goal of transforming it into the most potent laser on the planet.
Vulcan 20-20, currently under construction at the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) Central Laser Facility (CLF) in Oxfordshire, is poised to revolutionize scientific research. Its potential applications span across a wide range of fields, including clean energy generation and cancer treatment.
This state-of-the-art laser is christened Vulcan 20-20 due to its ability to generate a primary laser beam with an astounding energy output of 20 Petawatts (PW). In addition to the main beam, it will also produce eight high-energy beams, each with an output of up to 20 Kilojoules (KJ). This represents a staggering 20-fold increase in power, positioning Vulcan 20-20 to become the most potent laser globally. In fact, a single pulse from this laser will deliver more power than the entire National Grid.
The existing Vulcan laser, also located at CLF, has proven invaluable in a myriad of applications, particularly in the field of plasma physics. However, Vulcan 20-20 is set to surpass its predecessor significantly. It is anticipated to be a hundred times brighter than the current Vulcan laser, and its brightness will outshine even the sunniest day in the Sahara Desert.
George Freeman, the Science Minister, expressed excitement about this project, stating, “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.”
This monumental undertaking is slated for completion by 2029 and is expected to generate a multitude of job opportunities for scientists and engineers. George Freeman further emphasized the economic benefits, stating, “By investing £85 million to give our research community the edge in leading crucial scientific discoveries, we are also delivering hundreds of highly skilled jobs in science and engineering that boost the UK science sector and grow our economy.”
Professor John Collier, Director of CLF, underscored the significance of Vulcan 20-20, stating, “Vulcan has been the flagship laser at CLF for many years and is widely recognized internationally as a pioneering facility. 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.”
As the UK embarks on this ambitious project, the world eagerly anticipates the scientific breakthroughs and innovations that Vulcan 20-20 is poised to unleash on a global scale.
Sources By Agencies
