Paris – December 17, 2024

Amplitude, global leader in ultrafast lasers, and Focused Energy, the company pursuing the most scientifically advanced path to commercial fusion, today announced a strategic partnership to advance the field of inertial fusion energy. This collaboration focuses on the development of two high-energy, high-repetition rate laser systems which will be installed at Focused Energy’s Laser Development Facility in the United States. The development is supported and financed by Germany’s Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovations – SPRIND.

A Strategic Partnership to Shape Fusion Energy’s Future

Set to begin in early 2025 at Amplitude’s Lisses facility near Paris, the three-year development program builds on the global momentum for inertial fusion energy sparked by the fusion ignition breakthrough at the National Ignition Facility (NIF) in December 2022. This initiative places Amplitude at the forefront of worldwide efforts to develop clean energy solutions, leveraging cutting-edge laser technology to refine the parameters of Inertial Confinement Fusion and advance the promise of sustainable energy production.

Amplitude Laser Group President & CEO Damien Buet stated, “We are thrilled to push the boundaries of what is possible with our advanced laser technologies and contribute to this groundbreaking endeavor. Ten years of bold technological choices coupled with our leadership in cutting-edge research and industrial scalability will shape a brighter future powered by clean, sustainable energy.”

SPRIND Director Rafael Laguna de la Vera added, “Fusion is one of the most significant breakthrough innovations on the horizon and abundant energy the fundament for others to come. But overcoming the remaining technological challenges in fusion will require collective international efforts. Collaborations like this – with a strong foundation in European technology and close ties to US talent in the field – will accelerate the development of commercial fusion to meet the urgent demand for green energy.”

“This is a landmark moment on our path to commercial laser fusion, building off the National Ignition Facility’s groundbreaking work two years ago,” said Scott Mercer, CEO of Focused Energy. “These laser systems will serve as the technological foundation from which Focused Energy will build the modular laser arrays necessary for a fusion pilot plant capable of supplying clean energy to the grid.”

A Step Toward Sustainable Fusion Energy

Amplitude has long been a pioneer in state-of-the-art laser technology, reshaping industrial processes, advancing medical breakthroughs, and powering Nobel-caliber science. Its unique installations are deployed worldwide, notably at the Extreme Light Infrastructure for Hungary (ELI-ALPS), the DRACO and RELAX lasers in Dresden and Hamburg in Germany, the VEGA platform in Salamanca, Spain, and the ALLS system in Montreal, Canada. These and other installations provide the broader scientific community with unparalleled access to high peak power and high energy state-of-the-art lasers.

On the path to inertial fusion, further offshoot applications are likely to emerge. The company envisions a future where these advancements find use in fields such as non-destructive testing in healthcare, medical imaging, and a variety of industrial processes. These laser innovations promise to drive significant progress—improving healthcare outcomes, increasing industrial efficiency, and creating a lasting positive impact on society.

Amplitude has a proven track record of taking on complex technologies and developing scalable solutions that disrupt the market. A prime example of this is the company’s groundbreaking work in ophthalmology, where in 2007, Amplitude pioneered the integration of ultrafast femtosecond lasers into laser eye surgery systems. This innovation scaled to thousands of installations worldwide, continues to benefit millions of patients today. Amplitude has continued to lead the way in the display industry, developing advanced laser systems that enabled major technology companies to enhance their production capabilities and redefine display manufacturing standards.

Headquartered in Pessac near Bordeaux, the capital of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Amplitude benefits from strong regional support, including the Cité de la Photonique hub and the ALPHA-RLH deep tech competitiveness cluster. This program will draw on a range of the company’s technologies and consolidate expertise from its facilities in Lisses, Pessac, and Antibes.

Today, Amplitude takes a significant step toward advancing commercially viable fusion energy by partnering with Focused Energy and SPRIND. Together, they aim to harness the power of laser technology to illuminate a brighter, more sustainable future.

About Focused Energy

Focused Energy is the leading laser-driven fusion company pursuing the most promising path to clean, limitless fusion power. The global company, based in the San Francisco Bay Area and Darmstadt, Germany, has brought together the top scientific and engineering minds using proven technologies to unlock fusion power at commercial scale. Focused Energy is working to unleash the next chapter of economic growth and scientific innovation through the widespread adoption of clean, abundant fusion power.

To learn more, visit focused-energy.world

About SPRIND

The Federal Agency for Breakthrough Innovation SPRIND was founded in 2019 and is based in Leipzig. The sole shareholder is the Federal Republic of Germany, represented by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK). SPRIND closes a gap in the German innovation landscape: It finds new, groundbreaking technologies for the major challenges of our time and at the same time ensures that the added value of the resulting companies and industries remains in Germany and Europe. SPRIND is financed by funds from the federal budget. SPRIND is headed by Rafael Laguna de la Vera and Berit Dannenberg.

Visit https://www.sprind.org/en

The post Amplitude Signs An Agreement With Focused Energy appeared first on Amplitude.

Amplitude Laser Group and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) are deepening their 18-year collaboration by launching a joint research laboratory in Dresden. Building on joint work with the high-power laser DRACO, the strategic partnership aims to advance laser diagnostics, components, and applications, with a focus on electron and proton acceleration.

The titanium-sapphire laser system DRACO (Dresden laser acceleration source) at HZDR is one of the pioneering facilities driving relativistic laser plasma physics for novel particle accelerator concepts. Installed in 2007 by Amplitude, the system has since evolved through a close partnership between Amplitude and HZDR to become one of the world-leading two-beam facilities that it is today.

Driving Innovation with the Joint Laboratory

The new joint laboratory will spearhead advancements in next-generation titanium-sapphire laser technologies around the DRACO laser, targeting high-energy and high-repetition rate systems with improved stability, temporal contrast, and performance. It will also support the development of secondary radiation sources and enable technologies that surpass current standards, including high-dose rate radiobiology in the context of cancer research and inertial fusion energy applications.

To strengthen this successful collaboration, Amplitude will dedicate Research and Development resources from its Lisses facility in France to Dresden. The laboratory’s work will focus on creating innovative solutions for laser technology, secondary sources, and laser metrology. Further bolstering these efforts, Amplitude will fund PhD positions at HZDR and establish a local team in Dresden, ensuring a strong and sustainable presence in the region.

Damien Buet, CEO of Amplitude Laser Group, states: “Our long-term collaboration with HZDR has laid the foundation for this exciting new chapter. The joint lab will drive innovation, pushing high-power laser technology to new heights and shaping a brighter future.”

Prof. Sebastian M. Schmidt, Scientific Director at HZDR, continues: “Thanks to Hi-Acts, our Helmholtz Innovation Platform for Accelerator-based Technologies & Solutions, we are able to build strong collaborations with industry leaders like Amplitude Laser Group. Our new joint lab will give us many opportunities to transfer research directly into applications.”

The joint laboratory will follow a clear governance structure to ensure effective collaboration. The Steering Board, led by Prof. Ulrich Schramm, Director at HZDR’s Institute of Radiation Physics, and Dr. Pierre-Mary Paul, Vice President Advanced Laser Solutions at Amplitude, will guide strategic direction. Day-to-day operations will be managed by Project Management leads Stefan Bock (HZDR) and Émilien Gontier (Amplitude).

Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schramm highlights: “Recent breakthroughs in laser plasma accelerator research, like record-breaking proton energies or the demonstration of free-electron-lasing, originated from improved control over laser parameters on target. Advanced metrology and corresponding feedback to the laser chain will thus be essential to further progress.”

Dr. Pierre-Mary Paul concludes: “Advancing next-generation laser technologies allows us to push the boundaries of scientific research, enable groundbreaking applications using laser-based secondary sources, and lay the groundwork for scalable industrial solutions.”

About Hi-Acts:

The Hi-Acts innovation platform makes accelerator-based technologies more accessible for industry and medicine. Combining their expertise, the five Helmholtz centers Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, GSI Helmholtzzentrum für Schwerionenforschung, Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin offer access to their numerous accelerator facilities and research groups. With the strategic partnership between Amplitude and HZDR, the Hi-Acts platform broadens its network in Europe and strengthens Franco-German relations. It also opens up access to funding programs within the network to enhance pioneering deep-tech solutions.

About HZDR:

The Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) performs – as an independent German research center – research in the fields of energy, health, and matter. We focus on answering the following questions:

• How can energy and resources be utilized in an efficient, safe, and sustainable way?
• How can malignant tumors be more precisely visualized, characterized, and more effectively treated?
• How do matter and materials behave under the influence of strong fields and in smallest dimensions?

To help answer these research questions, HZDR operates large-scale facilities, which are also used by visiting researchers: the Ion Beam Center, the Dresden High Magnetic Field Laboratory, and the ELBE Center for High-Power Radiation Sources. HZDR is a member of the Helmholtz Association and has six sites (Dresden, Freiberg, Görlitz, Grenoble, Leipzig, Schenefeld near Hamburg) with almost 1,500 members of staff, of whom about 680 are scientists, including 200 Ph.D. candidates.

The post Next-Generation Lasers for Pioneering Research appeared first on Amplitude.

“We are thrilled to share that our esteemed institution has been leveraging the capabilities of the high-energy 250mJ 100Hz Amplitude Laser with ultrashort pulse duration (<25fs) and very high contrast for more than a decade” explains Pierre-Mary Paul.

“This technological advancement has played a pivotal role in driving groundbreaking discoveries and fostering innovation within our institution.” admits Olivier Uteza LP3 laboratory Director.

Through the ASUR platform, our dedicated team has been instrumental in advancing the understanding and utilization of high-power laser systems for imaging, and material science and engineering.  Notably, publication in the renowned APB journal shed light on the laser performance of our 10 TW/100Hz system and delved into the fascinating realm of associated thermal effects.

Among the recent publications:
📖Engraving depth-controlled nanohole arrays on fused silica by direct short-pulse laser ablation (2023)
📖Experimental investigation of size broadening of a Kα x-ray source produced by high-intensity laser pulses (2021)
📖Exploring phase contrast imaging with a laser-based Kα x-ray source up to relativistic laser intensity (2020)
📖Impact of the pulse contrast ratio on molybdenum Kα generation by ultrahigh intensity femtosecond laser solid interaction (2018)
… Others are coming soon

“Today in LP3 lab, thanks to Amplitude Laser and ASUR platform, we can fabricate new smart materials and characterize them in real-time.” says Raphael CLADY Technical Director of ASUR platform.

More details:

LP3 (Lasers, Plasma et Procédés Photoniques) is a multidisciplinary academic laboratory of excellence. Its major activities focus on: i) generation of secondary sources such as hard X-ray by laser-induced plasma technology ii) fundamentals and technological research of laser-matter interactions and iii) development of laser-based processes. The main applications are related to laser structuration and fabrication with major outcomes in photonics, microelectronics, medicine and laser-based diagnostics.

Using the ASUR platform, we study and operate pulsed hard X-ray sources induced by high peak-power high-average power laser sources with the perspective to develop imagery and X-ray diffraction diagnostics for material and life science

ASUR platform is an application platform for ultrafast laser sources for X-ray imaging and laser-matter interaction

The post Revolutionizing Research with High-Energy Lasers: A Decade of Innovation at LP3 Laboratory appeared first on Amplitude.

We invite you to read this article Electro-optical control of polarization in femtosecond-laser written waveguides using an embedded liquid crystal cell

This scientific publication introduces a NOVEL APPROACH to embedding adjustable waveplates into FLDW optical circuits. It achieves this by incorporating a layer of liquid crystal into the waveguide. Control over the liquid crystal’s orientation via applied voltage induces bias-dependent phase retardation, effectively acting as a voltage-dependent waveplate.

Sketch of the inscription setup (/2 – half-wave plate, Pol.- polarizer, SHG – non-linear crystal for second harmonic generation).@Kim Lammers, Alessandro Alberucci, Chandroth P. Jisha, Alexander Szameit, and Stefan Nolte, “Electro-optical control of polarization in femtosecond-laser written waveguides using an embedded liquid crystal cell,” Opt. Mater. Express 14, 836-846 (2024)

The post Electro-optical control of polarization in femtosecond-laser written waveguides using an embedded liquid crystal cell appeared first on Amplitude.

// In this Episode 3 Photonics Podcast, Justine talks with Pierre-Mary Paul, VP and director of the Advanced Laser Solutions Business Unit Amplitude Laser. He explains Amplitude’s Advanced Laser Solutions business and describes the importance of our state-of-the-art solutions in several application areas. //

What is Following the Photons?
It’s Podcast focused on photonics where Justine dives deep into the fascinating world of photonics and optics. It brings you the latest news and insights from the forefront of the photonics industry. The episodes feature interviews and discussions with industry and research experts, providing valuable perspectives on the issues, technologies, and trends shaping the photonics community. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your journey in photonics, this podcast is a go-to resource for staying informed and inspired. Tune in and stay laser-focused on the future of light-based technologies.

The post PODCAST: Interview with Pierre-Mary Paul Amplitude Laser appeared first on Amplitude.

TIFR has been pursuing intense laser-driven basic plasma science for over two decades. The upcoming petawatt laser from Amplitude is an extension of the current fundamental plasma science research activities to the ultrahigh intensity regimes. The spectrum of physics that would be probed with petawatt lasers covers diverse areas such as atomic and molecular physics, relativistic plasma dynamics, warm dense matter, and high-energy particle physics.

The focus of the group is basic research and the questions addressed therefore are of the ‘blue sky’ variety stressing the fundamentals of intense laser-matter interaction. A particularly important area will be particle acceleration and related physics. Attention will also be paid to the applications of the radiation emitted, particularly the high-energy electrons and x-rays for biological imaging and medical therapies.

Prof. G. Ravindra Kumar of TIFR says  “Following the successful operation of the 150 TW laser installed at  the UPHILL facility of the TIFR Mumbai campus in 2010, , we are reaffirming our confidence in Amplitude for the reliability and capabilities of their lasers, as well as  the quality of their after-sales service”.

His colleague Prof. M. Krishnamurthy of TIFR, currently the Director of the TIFR-Hyderabad campus says “ With the new petawatt laser, we have great plans to pursue not only the fundamental science that we have always done but also strike out in several innovative technologies in imaging and other applications.”

Both Pr. Kumar and Pr. Krishnamurthy and their team look forward to working with other institutions in India and abroad and hope to make the Hyderabad laboratory a global center in the years to come.

VP Advanced Laser System Business Unit at Amplitude, Pierre-Mary Paul explains “We are delighted to be working with TIFR again. Our Pulsar PW is the ultimate light source dedicated to high intensity science, offering the best-in-class performance and bringing industrial-grade reliability to Science. “

The post The Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR) has selected Amplitude to provide the first 1PW, 1Hz laser system in India appeared first on Amplitude.

At Amplitude, we are very proud that ultrafast lasers have once again been honored with the Nobel Prize in Physics, and even prouder that some of our products and team members have made modest contributions to this outstanding achievement.

Congratulations to Pierre Agostini, Ferenc Krausz, and Anne L’Huillier, the three Nobel Laureates in Physics recognized for experimental methods that generate attosecond pulses of light for the study of electron dynamics in matter. They have demonstrated a way to create and measure extremely short pulses of light that can be used to observe the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy. Read the press release

This award comes 5 years after the 2018 Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to Donna Strickland and Gerard Mourou for their method of generating high-intensity, ultra-short optical pulses, demonstrating once again the major contribution of ultrafast lasers in the advancement of fundamental physics.

Amplitude and Fastlite (a recent acquisition) provided some of the stepping stones that contributed to the experiments, which is a major source of satisfaction.

We take immense pride in the fact that some of Amplitude’s colleagues were lucky enough to work closely with two of the laureates before joining Amplitude, namely Pierre-Mary Paul, Director of Science Grands Projets, and Yoann Zaouter, Segment Line Manager Science & Industrial Ytterbium Laser Solutions.

“I’m delighted and very grateful to have taken part in such a scientific and human adventure. I have modestly contributed to this work as part of my PhD thesis under the supervision of Pierre Agostini and am extremely grateful for his mentorship. At that time, the very first measurement of a 250-attosecond pulse train was carried out using the RABBIT method (reference). I am extremely happy these three Physicists have been recognized for their extraordinary careers” explains Pierre-Mary Paul, Amplitude Director of Science Grands Projets.

“Our ultrafast lasers are installed in the largest international laboratories, and our team includes world-class scientific and technical experts who are part of the broader scientific community. I’m extremely proud that Amplitude is at the heart of the most advanced research and helps tackle the major challenges of our time” says Damien Buet, C.E.O. at Amplitude.

Creating extremely short pulses of light that can be used to measure the rapid processes in which electrons move or change energy can provide various advantages and be used in diverse applications:

1. Analysis of Ultrafast Processes: Ultrashort light pulses, measured in femtoseconds (1 femtosecond = 10^-15 seconds) or attoseconds (1 attosecond = 10^-18 seconds), enable the observation and measurement of phenomena occurring within very short timeframes. This includes processes such as electronic transitions, rapid chemical reactions, and electron motion in atoms and molecules.
2. High Temporal Resolution: Short light pulses offer extremely high temporal resolution, enabling precise insights into the dynamics of the studied processes. This is crucial for understanding the fundamental mechanisms of physical and chemical phenomena.
3. Ultrafast Imaging: These pulses are used to create real-time images of dynamic processes, such as electron scattering, changes in molecular structure, or electron motion in materials, which is valuable in various scientific and industrial applications.
4. Study of Matter at the Atomic Scale: Ultrashort pulses are essential for probing matter at atomic and subatomic scales. They allow researchers to follow how electrons move and interact, which is vital in areas like material physics, quantum chemistry, structural biology, and nanotechnology research.
5. Applications in Spectroscopy: Ultrashort light pulses are also used in spectroscopy to investigate the spectral properties of matter, including absorption, emission, and scattering spectra. They provide detailed information about electronic energy levels and transitions between these levels.
6. Control and Manipulation Mechanisms: These pulses are employed to control and influence ultrafast processes, which can have practical applications in nonlinear optics, optical communication, harmonic and frequency generation, as well as material manipulation.

In summary, extremely short pulses of light are essential tools for exploring and understanding ultrafast phenomena occurring at the subatomic level. Their use has significant impact in fundamental research, technology, materials science, and various other scientific and industrial fields.

The post Another Nobel Prize with a touch of Amplitude appeared first on Amplitude.

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“We are very happy to have the possibility to integrate the new metrology tool INSIGHT into our Arco and Pulsar Ti :Sa lasers. Thanks to INSIGHT metrology tools, our customers will keep the top-level beam specification on daily bases” says luc vigroux

“This agreement is a major step forward in broadly disseminating INSIGHT, as a powerful instrument mapping pulse spatiotemporal couplings, for the benefit of the whole laser community in search of simplicity, precision, and unprecedented control over the implementation.” explains François Sylla, CEO at SourceLAB S.A.S.

About SourceLAB S.A.S.
👉🏻Founded in 2013 after a successful ERC-Proof of Concept project, SourceLAB is a key provider of laser plasma technology (metrology, interaction target, turnkey beamlines). Located at Ecole Polytechnique campus in Paris, SourceLab is specialized in integrated laser-plasma accelerators for industrial applications (e.g. Non-Destructive Testing).

More information : https://www.sourcelab-plasma.com/

The post Amplitude and SourceLab Under Commercial Agreement appeared first on Amplitude.

Article “Microfluidic devices for quasi-phase-matching in high-order harmonic generation” published on 16 November 2022

Amplitude Laser is proud to contribute to this achievement with its laser technology and continues supporting this group throughout the year with its service team. In this regard, we address a special thanks to Phillippe Demengeot, Customer Service for Grand Project at Amplitude.

>> What is this novel approach ?

The novel approach consists of the use of a microfluidic glass device, micromachined by an ultrafast laser (Satsuma model), and filled with gas. Ultrashort, high-intensity laser pulses (ARCO product range) propagate in the microfluidic device and interact with the gas, resulting in a high harmonic generation.

>> Why choosing Amplitude and its laser solutions?

« Our research activity relies on femtosecond laser sources. For instance, we need ultrashort pulses to develop novel approaches in attosecond science, ultrafast spectroscopy, and microfabrication by femtosecond laser micromachining. One of our current activities focuses on the miniaturization of complex XUV sources, one of the current challenges in Photonics. In this work, we trace a route toward a bright and flexible XUV source based on high-order harmonic generation inside integrated microfluidic devices.” explains Catarina Vozzi

Anna GOLINELLI, Sales Manager at Amplitude says “It is exciting to witness how different laser technologies provided by Amplitude can work together and support such great scientific achievement. Two laser systems have been chosen for this work” 👇

> TiSa, mJ level, femtosecond laser system (ARCO), named Aurora, was used for High Harmonic Generation. This process is triggered by the interaction between a high-peak intensity laser pulse with gas. Ultrashort pulse duration (fs) with mJ level energy fulfills the requirements for HHG. The experiment could also benefit from the kHz repetition rate, for decreasing the acquisition time.

> Satsuma ultrafast laser was used for manufacturing the microfluidic gas device, operating the FLICE technique. This technique requires irradiating a fused silica substrate with a high repetition rate of femtosecond pulses. When a high amount of energy is deposited inside a targeted area in the volume, a permanent modification of the material is induced, and local etching is possible. Satsuma, with up to MHz repetition rate, and hundreds of femtosecond pulse duration is a reliable and stable laser for µmachining.

This novel approach for laser-driven XUV and soft-x-ray sources has seen the light thanks to

• Udyni (Ultrafast dynamics in matter | Udyni), lead by Vozzi (CNR) and Stagira (Politecnico) working on HHG and owning the femtosecond laser system (ARCO), named Aurora
• FAST (Femtosecond Laser Micromachining – IFN Milano (cnr.it) lead by Osellame (CNR) that worked on the microfluidic device fabrication with Satsuma

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