|
Topic Name: Full use of FLASH
Category: Optoelectronics
Research persons: The team of Prof Forster
Location: Max-Wien-Platz 1 ,07743 Jena ,Tel. +49 (0) 69 - 69027771 ,Fax. +49 (0) 69 - 692947, Germany
Details
In order to observe movements on an atomic scale, there is necessary to be
able to have a light for very low wavelength, in the ultraviolet ray even in the
field of x-rays. At present, it is one laser whose luminous flashes are emitted
in the field of x-rays with a sufficient intensity: the FLASH source (“Laser
Free Electron in Hamburg”) which is exploited by the DESY (Deutsches
Electron-Synchrotron) in Hamburg. This laser produces 150 impulses X a second
with a maximum power of 10 Gig watts by impulse.
The team of Prof Forster of the institute of optics and quantum electronics of
the University Friedrich-Schiller d' Iena (Thruinge, center) has been just
selected by the federal Ministry of teaching and research (BMBF) within the
framework of the new set of themes of research supported by the BMBF, the
analysis of the matter, to receive a financing of 700.000 euros until 2010 for
her research. Together with colleagues of the university of Rostock
(north-eastern), the physicists of Iena want to analyze the properties of the
hot dense matter, which one finds for example in the middle of large gas planets
like Saturn and Jupiter. At the difference of the extremely hot matter, presents
for example in the middle of stars, sufficiently energetic to emit ultraviolet
radiations even X and to be then analyzed, the hot matter (temperatures between
10.000 and 100.000 degrees Celsius) is not sufficiently powerful to be analyzed.
In order to be able to study this matter, the physicists create it at the
laboratory thanks to FLASH: for that, they bombard droplets of hydrogen cooled
to -260 degrees Celsius with the laser, thus generating hot matter during some
split seconds. The light of the laser is then diffused within this very short
state of the matter and thus informs by its intensity and its form about the
temperature and the density of this state.
After a first pilot experiment in March, the physicists are able from now on to
continue their experiments, consequently allowing to improve the performances of
FLASH. The laser is itself the prototype of XFEL, future laser with x-rays which
will be brought into service in 2012.
About The Researchers:
Prof Dr. Eckhart Förster -
Institute für Optik und Quantenelektronik der Friedrich-
Schiller Universität Jena, max-Wien-Platz 1, D07743 Jena -
Tel.: +49 3641 947260 -
email: foerster@ioq.uni-jena.de
Funded :
Since the late 1980s, Germany has developed into a world market leader in
many areas of laser technology: From an importer of laser beam sources for
industrial production, our country has developed into an export champion with a
world market share of 40 percent. Consistent funding policy has made an
important contribution to this development. The
BMBF supported projects on laser
technology and optical technologies with over 770 million Euro between 1987 and
2004.
Novel technological challenges and opportunities are emerging after research has
enabled comprehensive technical control of the multiple and unique
characteristics of light. In 1999/2000, the BMBF initiated a strategy process
led by industry to develop and use the field of optical technologies in its full
range. The results with over 100 recommendations for action addressed to
industry, science and the government have been summed up in the German agenda on
"Optical Technologies for the 21st Century". At federal level, the
implementation of urgent measures to strengthen optical technologies in Germany
was taken up directly after the agenda process. The "Optical Technologies - Made
in Germany" funding programme was launched in spring 2002. The BMBF will
initially provide 280 million Euro under this programme up to the year 2006.
Besides measures to develop new technologies with a particular leverage effect
on growth and employment, the funding programme also provides for measures of
innovation policy. Nine competence networks on optical technologies have
developed so far. A total of over 400 companies, mostly small and medium-sized
enterprises, are committed in these local networks.
Current highlights
The current highlights of BMBF funding include a broad range of optical
technologies:
- Femtonics provides entirely new opportunities in materials processing and
medicine with ultra-short laser pulses. Painless treatment of dental caries is
therefore within reach.
- High-performance diode lasers generate particularly efficient laser light
for applications in production, printing and medical technology.
- Biophotonics, which provides deep insight into cells and their life
processes by means of new light-based technologies and thereby tries to
prevent and cure diseases, is entering the second funding phase. An efficient
early recognition of tumours is one of the objectives.
- Organic LEDs are particularly promising as energy-saving and flexible
sources of light. The BMBF plans to establish a new funding initiative in this
area.
|
